Preserved for a Purpose

Based on Judges 9-10, Luke 5:17-39

"And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself. And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem. And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you." Judges 9:5-7.

Jotham escaped his brother's mass killing of the rest of his brothers. But these things don't just happen so we can survive & live another day...God preserves us for a purpose! Jotham prophesied boldly on a mountain the bloodshed that would take place because Abimelech should not have been made king by Israel...and later on, Jotham would become king! God does not just allow us to rise off our bed & live another day just to "go through the motions." We need to seek God's Perfect Will & plan for our lives!

"But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God." Luke 5:22‭-‬25.

This man did not rise up and leave in fear of the scribes and Pharisees. He did not leave as if it was just another day, back to his same old self...he rose up glorifying God! He knew what it meant to be stuck. Paralyzed. Dead in a living body...that's why he could glorify God all the more! I'm sure he & his family desired to follow Jesus closely after that! Even if we are not rescued from a paralyzing situation, we can be rescued from our routines in order to have a better relationship with God! Just take a look at Levi (Matthew):

"And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him."
Luke 5:27‭-‬28.

Jesus gave a simple command, but this simple command tugged upon Matthew's heart so greatly that he responded immediately...God preserved him for a greater purpose! Now this doesn't mean all of us should leave our jobs, but it does mean we should take a good look at our everyday routines-are we making room for God's purpose, or just our own? Do we take every day for granted, not realizing every breath is a miracle? God may not call us to leave our jobs, but He IS calling us in some way...are we ready to follow?