Lost Souls
How hard it is to rebuild after a loss.
Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples; but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are under the farthest skies, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place at which I have chosen to establish my name.' - Nehemiah 1:8-9
The story of Nehemiah is the story of rebuilding.
The temple in Jerusalem is destroyed and the people are scattered. Yet there is hope, because God promised his People would be brought together.
If we are faithful to God we will be restored.
I never thought I would come to know so many people who are desperately seeking help. Some have faith, believing that any good that comes their way is God's doing, and for the most part, these are the people of hope.
But there are others who seek assistance from anyone who may be able to help them, sounding like they are just one step away from turning the corner, and as soon as they get help, they disappear until the next time.
On this All Souls Day, we remember all these souls, all who are in need of help, not just the ones who are trying to turn around, but even those who don't.
In a way, God is the ultimate stooge. He listens to us and offers us grace, even if we seek only to deceive and buy time so we can return to our own desires and flaws.
So, in seeking to follow His will, it seems only fair that we share in the humiliation of being played by those who seek our help and then turn against us.
In a way, it brings us closer to God.
So, on this day when we pray for all the souls, let us remember that we too slip away and do our own thing. We may not see what we do as grievous sins, and we may not abuse others, but we do seek first our own desires, ignoring His will.
Therefore, we pray today for all of us, the takers and the taken, the faithful and the unfaithful, that we can come together in peace and learn to love one another, not because God wills it, but for our own sake as well.
To rebuild our souls, we need help, and help is all around us.
More to come...