What emotionally moves you? What are the things that make you cry? Note these things, for God’s call may be found in them.
(John Lathrop)
If you are a Christian you probably want to serve the Lord, but you may not know exactly what you should do. If this describes your situation do not feel bad about it, this is a common problem among the people of God.
The Lord could give you a powerful experience like Moses on Mount Sinai or Paul on the road to Damascus, but He may not. If He does not work with you in this way, do not despair, there are other ways in which the Lord can reveal what He has called you to do.
The experience of Nehemiah is one example of how the Lord can communicate with you in order to tell you what He wants you to do.
As the book of Nehemiah opens we find Nehemiah in a foreign land serving the king; he served as the king’s cupbearer. His circumstances did not seem to lend themselves to him serving the purposes of God. I do not think that at this point in his life he was looking for a ministry. However, it was in this place that God called him and it was from this place that God called him.
It all started innocently enough through what seemed to be a casual conversation. Big things frequently have small beginnings. Hanani, whom Nehemiah referred to as one of his brothers, came from Judah. Nehemiah asked him how the remnant that was back in the land was doing and about Jerusalem. Nehemiah had an interest in what was happening back in his homeland. It was this interest that was the first step in getting him involved in God’s plan for Jerusalem.
Pay attention to the things that you seek information about, the things that interest you, and the things you are talking to others about. These are potentially things that God may be calling you to get involved in.
The report Hanani gave Nehemiah was not very encouraging; in fact, it was bad news. He was told that the people back in Jerusalem were in trouble and the wall and gates of the city were in great disrepair. This news caused Nehemiah to move from an interest in the situation to a degree of intensity about it, the news had a profound impact on him.
The inspired text says “When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven” (Neh. 1:4 NIV). Nehemiah was emotionally stirred.
What emotionally moves you? What are the things that make you cry? Note these things, for God’s call may be found in them.
But Nehemiah was not just emotionally moved; the Bible tells us that he was moved to prayer. He did not just feel bad about the situation, he did something about it. In view of his circumstances it did not seem like he would be able to personally do anything to help, so he took the matter to God. Nehemiah could not just walk away from the news he received, he could not let it go.
He was stirred both emotionally and spiritually. Pay attention to the things that you pray for, these may also be an indication of a burden that the Lord is giving you for a specific mission or ministry.
Nehemiah went from interest to intensity regarding Jerusalem and its people. But there was one more step that he took, he got personally involved.
After being moved to fasting and prayer about the situation in Jerusalem he made plans to go to Jerusalem. What was he thinking? He did not have the kind of job where he could just walk in one day and quit, nor could he go in and tell the king that he was taking an extended leave of absence or demand time off.
In addition, at this time he had no financial resources or any people who had agreed to help him with this vast project, yet he stepped out. Why? Nehemiah 2:12 tells us why, he had determined that God had put it in his heart to do this.
At the beginning of the story Nehemiah’s experience may seem to be entirely subjective and personal. However, in the midst of this God was the one leading him to head up a mission that would help many people. The city of Jerusalem was secured and there was spiritual renewal in the city. Nehemiah’s obedience was instrumental in the accomplishing of these things.
Perhaps God is calling you through some of the same means that He used to call Nehemiah. The clues may be subtle but they are there nonetheless. Pay attention to the things you are interested in and the things that you are passionate about. God may be calling you to take action and get personally involved. If He is calling you, step out. In this way you will be in line with the purposes of God and others will be blessed as well.
John P. Lathrop - United States
John P. Lathrop is a graduate of Western Connecticut State University, Zion Bible Institute, and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary’s Center for Urban Ministerial Education (CUME). He is an ordained minister with the International Fellowship of Christian Assemblies and has twenty years of pastoral experience.
