Service

Today's devotional is from Life Is a Goldmine: Can You Dig It?

"Each day one ox, six choice sheep and some poultry were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. In spite of all this, I never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people" - Nehemiah 5:18.

Nehemiah's purpose was to rebuild Jerusalem, but it was not a source of personal gain or positional power. Nehemiah's purpose led him to a life of service, something God had instilled in him as a butler of sorts in Persia serving a pagan king. Your purpose is usually assigned to alleviate the pain or enhance the lives of others, and you become their servant as you serve them in God's power. You also become the servant of your purpose, devoting time and effort to make it effective and relevant.

Where do you serve with the greatest effectiveness and joy? Can that area be related to your purpose? Are you enriching others or yourself in your pursuit of purposeful work? Are you finding new ways to fulfill your purpose?

Lord, I accept Your call to a life of service, but I want it to be effective service based on Your power released through my purpose. Deliver me from the tendency to play small so I can make an impact in my world according to Your purposeful will for my life. And then help me make my purpose work all it can and should be to touch as many people as possible.