The Business of Heaven (Part 1): The Work You’re Called To

what’s your problem?

When something’s not right with you, the people closest to you tend to take notice. They’ll usually say something about how you “seem off” or they’ll ask, “what’s up with you?”. And many times, we’re quick to answer back with some surface-level response.

We’ll complain about how sick of our job we are or talk about the lack of sleep we’ve been getting. All true things, of course. But sometimes those things are scapegoats; they’re only symptoms of a much deeper problem. And sometimes, when we’re willing to look beyond the pain of our problem, we find purpose.

Take for instance the book of Nehemiah, where we find a man wrecked by some troubling news. Nehemiah Ch. 1 (NLT) tells us that a group of men arrived with a status report concerning the Jews living in the province of Judah. These Jews were former captives who were permitted to go back to Judah & rebuild. Nehemiah, the cup-bearer to King Artaxerxes, is given the following status report:

“…Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”

After hearing the news, Nehemiah says, “for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.”. Nehemiah goes on to confess his sins & the sins of the Jewish people to God. He asks God for forgiveness and asks God to remember His Promise to restore those who return to Him in repentant obedience.

A short time later, we find Nehemiah serving wine to the king—taking care of business as usual. But for the first time, Nehemiah is found to appear “sad in the presence of the king”. King Artaxerxes takes note & essentially asks Nehemiah what his problem is. Nehemiah goes on to explain the terrible condition of the city & his people. And with God’s supernatural favor, the king grants Nehemiah the authority to go back & rebuild the city. As always, God’s Purpose Prevailed.

Nehemiah called out to God for restoration, and God called on Nehemiah to rebuild. God took one man’s burden & converted it into a blessing. Thus, reminding us of how important it is to bring our burdens to God. When you come to Him & lay down your pain, in due time—

God Will Lift You Up In His Purpose.

come out of your comfort zone

Nehemiah was in a relatively good place when he learned of the poor state of his people in Judah. As the cup-bearer to the king, he held a high position of trust & influence. By bringing his concern for Judah to the king’s attention, he risked losing the very things he’d worked so hard to earn. Nehemiah could have said, “that’s too bad, they’re there & I’m here. Not my city, not my problem”. But instead, he embodied the example that Jesus shared about in Luke 12:48 (NLT):

“…When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.”

Nehemiah recognized what he’d been entrusted with. He knew that his good fortune wasn’t to simply indulge himself but to serve God & His people. He understood that his good position ultimately served God’s mission.

Because the natural tendency is to grow spiritually dull & indifferent, you have to remain sensitive & intentional when listening for the Lord’s leading. When God calls you, He will inevitably call you out of your comfort zone.

He will often lead you into conditions that appear “unfavorable”. You’ll find yourself in a place where the level of selflessness required exceeds your natural ability. The bottom line is, you’ll have to step into a higher degree of risk. But what you’ll find on the other side of obedience is this—

The Call Of God Is A Risk Worth Taking.

The anthem of today

When you stop & take a pulse on the world, it’s not hard to pick up on the immensity of issues taking place. Many times, we’re tempted to be overcome by all we’re seemingly up against. But when things are at their worst, God brings out His best.

Instead of being discouraged, we should be encouraged by the undeniable need for us to step up & make a Godly difference. We should be encouraged in knowing “God’s strength works best in our weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Though we may experience moments of despair, we can’t afford to stay there.

In the process of rebuilding the walls & restoring the city of Judah, Nehemiah was under constant attack by his enemies. Time after time, they tried to intimidate Nehemiah & force him to abandon God’s work. But in faith, Nehemiah told them:

“I am doing a great work and I cannot come down…”

Nehemiah 6:3 (ESV)

This should be the anthem of God’s people today. Our anthem should reflect a heart that's focused on the magnitude of God & the great work we’ve been called to. In the face of opposition, disappointment, and even staggering odds, we need to press on. We need to—

“...be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord [always doing your best and doing more than is needed], being continually aware that your labor [even to the point of exhaustion] in the Lord is not futile nor wasted [it is never without purpose].”

1 Corinthians 15:58 (AMP)

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today’s Takeaways

God Blesses us through our burdens.
He brings out our best when things are at their worst.
Each of us are called into god’s rebuilding process.

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