Bring In The Substitutes

[S] 2 Chronicles 36:23 --
 ²³"Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, 'The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all His people, may the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up!'"

[O] When God's people are not following His directions, then He will use even those who are far from being God's people to carry out His purposes.  I am amazed by the detail King Cyrus received from God re: the task. And I am wondering how he was assured that this message is from God to him?  How does God speak to those who are not His people so clearly?  If I were to answer my own question, there is no boundaries when it comes to God calling any of the people on earth because everyone of us belong to Him in the end.  As much as an evil ruler doing evil deeds by his own conviction, the same can happen when God convicts him to do His will.  From the believer's perspective, this is a shameful situation because we missed the boat all together here such that God had to use a non-believer.  I wonder how close we are today for God to raise up a non-believing people/country to complete His good works?

[A] Stay awake in God's word daily so that I won't miss His instructions; furthermore that I should receive His instructions clearly as King Cyrus received in carrying out His tasks.  Don't let God bring in the subs!

[P] Dear God, I want to hear Your instructions clearly as King Cyrus had so I may carry out Your tasks well and to pass on the conviction to other clearly to mobilize them.  King Cyrus was a catalyst here to get Your people moving in the right direction.  Please use me to do that at our church foremost as we're initiating the small group ministry.  Use me to bring people's hearts together in this ministry.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.