They willingly offered themselves

Nehemiah 11:2

And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.

Everything good that has ever been accomplished has been accomplished by someone who willingly offered himself. If we offer not ourselves, what good are we? You see, many of the Jews here are back in the homeland, having come from Babylon, or having been left in the land during captivity, and all things are being set up. The wall has been built, the city is being fortified, and the people determined that a certain number should dwell at Jerusalem. The leaders, the chief of the people, dwelt there, and then they chose to have one out of ten come and dwell at Jerusalem. But how would they choose? They cast lots to determine who would have to move away from their inheritance and their possessions to dwell at Jerusalem. They would need to leave that which was familiar; they would have to leave the place that belonged to them, and come and live in Jerusalem. And when the lots were cast, those who were selected did not resist. They willingly offered themselves to dwell in Jerusalem.

They willingly offered themselves! That is what God is looking for. He is looking for men and women who are willing to offer themselves to whatever the Lord wants them to do—to move wherever they must move, to go wherever they must go, to live in whatever city they must live in, so that they may be used by the Lord. What if these men did not submit to the lot that was taken? What if these men resisted the call? If they had resisted the call, Jerusalem would not have been strengthened and fortified and renewed as it needed to be. Jerusalem needed strong men and leaders! It needed to be full of people that knew God and obeyed God! It needed to be full of people who willingly offered themselves to the work of God!

Now, my friend, I know not what the Lord is calling you to. I do not expect that He is calling you to Jerusalem! But He may be calling you to something else of equal importance. The lot has fallen upon you! You have been chosen by God! You must not resist! God has given you an assignment, a task, a duty, a responsibility. And you must not deflect from it! You must arise and build. You must willingly offer yourself! Perhaps He is calling you to a city or place. If so, you must, even now, willingly offer yourself to that. But if such is not the case, and He has some specific work for you, choose now, in this very moment, to willingly offer yourself to what the Lord has chosen you to do. And then, you shall know that you are a true servant of the Lord!

“Dear Father, thank You for the men in Israel who willingly offered themselves. Give us the same heart, the same motive, and the same purpose. Give us the same response, the same obedience, that these men showed to the selection of God. And I truly pray that whatever our selection is, we would be faithful to it, and that we would willingly offer ourselves to accomplish Your will, and take our place in the plan of God. And these things we pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.”