Many times I have heard or read people studying to find thier purpose in life. There are even full on month long studies about finding your purpose. So what do you do once you find it? What if it's not enough? When it is God's purpose in your life that matters it will always be enough! If you don't understand, check it out!
In His Word!
For You are my rock and my fortress; therefore, for Your name's sake, lead me and guide me. Psalm 31:3
Okay so first of all, we can’t
have it all because it is not about us. It is about Him, and how we can glorify
Jesus and He can have it all! Hey, what is our part in all this? Don’t we get to share in that glory at some
point? In someway? You can rest assured
that Father God knows what you have done and He will reward you as He sees fit.
Whether in this world or that which is yet to come, God will take care of you.
But when you do a
charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret
will Himself reward you openly.
Matt
6:3-4
Okay,
let's focus for a few moments on what we know about the Church as a body, and
our purpose. Let’s say I was a foot, for instance. A foot could be a prayer
warrior because they carry us around to where we need to be, they are quick and
surefooted to get us out of muck and mire and, well you get the idea? What about those toes? They are a part of the
foot aren’t they? But more than one
working together gets more done. The Word of God says that when two or more
agree as to touching one thing, then it will be done. (Matthew 18:19)
For as
we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same
function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members
of one another. Romans 12:4-5
We do
not all have the same job, in this world. Some are teachers, some are plumbers,
and some sell real estate! But if we did not all work together… well let’s
think of a house being built as an example.
First
plans are drawn up, then there is the person who clears the ground, then lays
the foundation.
The
architect could probably not have cleared the ground and laid the foundation as
well himself, so it is good that each has a function. The carpenters do the
building, electricians, and plumbers, roofers… the list could go on and on
there are so many people involved in building a house. People have in some way prepared themselves
for his or her job. They take training in many forms, Trade Schools, On the Job
Training, etc, but learn how to master the skill they take on for life, in most
cases. Then they work together to get
the job done right.
We in
the Family of God have to work together to get things done right too!
Sometimes
I wonder what God has planned for me in the next year or so? In the past I have
been involved in many different forms of ministry. But what is next? What is
God preparing me for next in my life? That has to be my constant prayer, my
constant goal, to follow His lead and His guidance.
If I
tried to be a foot, but really God wanted me to be a hand, I would trip trying
to walk!
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:5-8
Each of
us has a special place in His family. Every one of us is important to God
Himself. He loves all of us so much that Jesus would have gone to the cross for
just us, and that is pretty cool if you think about it! The Word says after
all, that He chose us! In the same way He chose what you are to be in life; how
it will further His kingdom and I believe it is something you will enjoy doing!
So many
people are stuck trying to be the wrong part of the body; they fret over what
they are doing because they are not following His lead.
For in
fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, "Because
I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body?
And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the
body," is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye,
where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the
smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just
as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? 1
Cor 12:14-19
If we
all were preachers, whom would we preach to?
Not everyone can be the one who gets up in front of the congregation and
share what the Lord gave him. Some of us have to do the encouraging one another
to stand firm, or to lead others to the door that Jesus is standing at and
knocking by prayer, not just words. I know that my great grandmother prayed me to
that door! I know she loved the Lord and looked to His guidance in His Word
each day! She was our family prayer
warrior!
But what
is my part? How do I fit in to the family of God, and His purposes? I am just a
home-schooling Mom of three children, a stay at home wife… how can God use
me?
Maybe
you are asking a similar question? He will find a way to use you in your
situation. Maybe the situation you are in right now will be the way He uses you
to help someone else and share His love with him or her? Maybe how you stand in the face of a trial,
sort of how our ribs stand and protect vital organs, (just to keep us on the focus here) will show
how God stands to protect your brother, or sister, in a trial they may be going
through?
The main
thing we have to remember, in looking at our place in His Kingdom, or His
Family, is to seek Him for the direction.
Many of you know my favorite scripture is Proverbs 3:5-6. When we trust
Him, He will direct our path. He will show us what to do with out us having to
fret, or stress out or even worry about what is next.
The
thing is, we have to listen to Him. One of this weeks scripture readings tells
us that the ear must be used as an ear. I want to remind us that our ears were
given to us to listen, not just to one another but to the Holy Spirit speaking
to our hearts and minds. Reading daily in His Word you will find that you hear
His voice. God has given us direction for each day of our lives, if we just
seek Him for it, it is right there in black and white, and sometimes red!
So the
answer to our question this week: where do we go to find out why we can’t be
everything...is that we are one part, one person, and though we may want to be
something we are not, God has designed us to be used for His purpose. Also to look in His Word! He has crafted each
of us to do His Will; it is up to us to give in to His will though. I truly
believe when we are walking in His will that we will find true happiness, true
peace, true direction, and true life! We will find that we are satisfied with
our job, when we are walking with Him in His will for our lives.
"I still have
many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the
Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak
on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you
things to come. John
16:12-14
Listen
for His voice today, perhaps He will use your best friend to talk to you, or
your co-worker? God used a donkey in Numbers 22:22, He can use anyone to
get His point across. Also, in Luke 19:40, it tells us if those meant to speak
of His Gospel do not speak even the rocks will cry out! Personally, I would
much rather share His Word with others and hear a rock talk!
So, as
we sum up today’s Word, we need to remember that we have a purpose, and a plan
to follow. We have to be trained and gifted in our purpose or calling. God will
prepare us through His Word, to do what He has chosen for us to do. That kind
of takes the mystery out of why we can’t do it all, we are not God. He could do
it all, and yet He has chosen to do it through each of us doing our crucial
part to bring others to His Family. How
cool is that? Whether that part is a small part or a big part, all of it is
important. If you still don’t believe that all body parts are important, try
taping your pinky up for a day. You will find even that small thing that seems
to be not that useful is there for ballast!
Dear
heavenly Father help me to be content and happy doing Your will in my life.
Even if I am one of those parts of the church that has to clean the toilets let
me know that I am doing Your will and help me find Joy in those things. Help me
to do Your will in all that I do. In Jesus name, Amen.
Suggested Readings for
this week;
Monday: 1Corinthians
12:12-31
Tuesday: Romans
12:4-21
Wednesday: 1
Corinthinans 9:1-18
Thursday: Exodus
22-all
Friday: Colossians
3:1-25
Weekend readings: Luke 18-19-all.