Godly Sorrow

"Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid," (Nehemiah 2:2)

The king recognized in the heart of Nehemiah a sorrow. It is not a sorrow that merely affects the mind evoking sympathy. We have sorrow of heart when we have love for that person or that place. Nehemiah loved God with all his heart. He was comfortably placed in life as the king's cup-bearer. But when the condition of Jerusalem was told him, he was no longer comfortable. It affected him. He sat down and wept. What kind of love is this? What kind of religion is this? If we are clothed and feel well we do not worry about the condition of the Church or the condition of our neighbors even though they may be Christians. Then the king said unto me, "For what dost thou make request?" So I prayed to the God of Heaven. This is the heart attuned to Heaven. He wept.

Did you ever feel sorry for the condition of the Church? Do you know how many families are being ruined and how many young men are being lost because the Church is like that? 'So I prayed to the God of heaven.' Even though Nehemiah held a high office under the king, he kept up his spiritual life in such a way that he could immediately take up the responsibility when the need arose. As a student you may not have great responsibility of prayer. You may even sleep spiritually. And when a great need suddenly comes you will not be spiritually fit for it.

When Nehemiah heard about the condition of Jerusalem, he was spiritually fit for the situation. You may go home for the holidays and find things topsy turvy at home. Can you face the situation? Can you solve the problems? Can you save your brothers and sisters?