God’s purpose for my life

A Christian who authors books said, “We are not called to write; we are called to love and obey God. Today you might be writing; tomorrow you might be doing something else.”

I heard these words as if God Himself was speaking to me and from them He set me free. I had the idea that “I must do this . . .” from my to-do list. Instead He wanted me to listen to Him each day, even each moment. As that author said, God’s guidance can take me in all directions.

This was true for Timothy, a young pastor. His ‘calling’ might have been to preach, but at least once God gave him something else to do . . .

Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain. (1 Thessalonians 3:1–5)

Chambers says, “After sanctification it is difficult to state what your aim in life is, because God has taken you up into His purpose . . . .” For most of us, this can mean affliction just as it was for the Christians in Thessalonica.

Today’s devotional reminds me that when I lose my own ideas and let God guide me, I cannot predict or even understand what comes next. Yesterday, I set out to attend the Bible study I’ve missed for two weeks while on vacation. When I got there, I found out how far behind I was in reading the assigned book. However, God put it on the heart of the leader to ask me to lead the group discussion involving half of those attending. Saying yes brought me to a very quick prayer. Today, I’m doing something else that also calls for prayer . . . and so it goes.

Chambers verifies that I cannot grasp God’s interests until I drop all my interests and ambitions. His purpose for my life is His purpose, not mine. I must not whine, complain, or lay down any rules regarding what I want. As Chambers says, “When I stop telling God what I want, He can catch me up for what He wants without let or hindrance. He can crumple me up or exalt me, He can do anything He chooses. He simply asks me to have implicit faith in Himself and in His goodness.”

This is the key to finding the purpose of God; knowing that God is good. If I suspect He will harm me or fear that He will put me through flaming hoops when I expect something that feels good, then I cannot fulfill His purpose or be used by Him. Living in utter self-control leads to frustration and inevitable self-pity, all of which is a total waste of my life, which is exactly what the devil would prefer.

My purpose is to tell His story

Before I became a Christian, loving others was difficult and I was aware of it. I wanted to love people but didn’t’ seem to have the wherewithal to do it. I can remember a day shortly after Christ came into my life. I was sitting on my front step in the sunshine, joyful in the fact that I now knew at least what it felt like to care about other people.

Of course it takes a lifetime to learn how best to express the love of God. For me, a major part of that is rooted in restoring those who have strayed by showing them and reminding them that His love is still there and always will be.

I’m also drawn to the prophets in the Old Testament, particularly Jeremiah and Isaiah. While they preached a strong judgment message, their hearts were filled with the desire to restore the people of God to the vibrant relationship they once had.

“Now the Lord says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him — for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has become my strength . . . .” (Isaiah 49:5)

Isaiah began life with an inner desire to set things right. I understand that desire. In an unsaved person, such a longing for rightness and justice will be worldly and often misdirected. Yet after faith in Christ and regeneration, this desire becomes directed to the will of God. Those who have it are often black and white in their judgments, often misunderstood, but have a deep passion that the people of God live like the people of God are supposed to live. While stern, this passion is an expression of God’s love.

With such a strong desire for righteousness, we are also hard on ourselves. We see our sin and hate it. This does not mean an extra ability to live a godly life, but it does mean a great deal of introspection and beating myself up if I do not keep a solid focus on the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that apart from Him I am nothing and can do nothing, but in Him, I can do all things.

Chambers points out the changes in the life of someone who is called to be God’s servant. He sees the Lord’s great purpose for humanity as being created by God and for God — to glorify and enjoy Him forever.

While this is true, I’m reading another book which points to a different view. The author of “The Gospel and Pluralism” says that we are created and called by God to tell the world His story, the story of creation, sin, and redemption in Christ, culminating with His return and eternal bliss. Our task is not so much about enjoying God as it is about sharing Him with others in our deeds and sometimes our words.

This author points out the lack of commands in the New Testament for evangelism, and the fact that people were drawn to Christ by the changed lives of His followers. Then they wanted to know what was going on and why, and the disciples shared with them the good news about Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection, and His promise to return.

The emphasis is a story that is passed from one generation to the next, just as cultural values are passed, and we who live now must be faithful to tell those who come after us, so they can do the same. In this way, God is revealing the Kingdom that began with the advent of Christ but was largely hidden. As those first followers displayed kingdom living, more people were drawn to Him, and when that happened, more of what God’s kingdom is like could be seen.

This author also points out that the more God’s people live out the truth of His kingdom, the greater the opposition.  This happens personally and corporately. But it is living out truth that attracts others to find out what we have, what I have, that brings them to the Cross. We don’t go after their throats telling them to “turn or burn” but we go after our own godliness, sacrificing our own plans to be people of the grand story of God, passing it on as we can and trusting God to do what He wills with our witness.

Chambers ends with, “Beware lest you forget God’s purpose for your life” which to me is too close to a “turn or burn” statement. God calls me to this purpose and in my experience He will never let me forget it!

Some connections are more subtle than others . . .

Joshua 19:10–20:9, 2 Corinthians 12:11–21, Psalm 57:1–58:11

When I selected “Connect the Testaments” as a devotional guide for the year, I didn’t know I’d be taking a class that requires a thorough exegesis of Old Testament texts to discover what it meant to the original hearers, then show how it points ahead to Jesus Christ and the New Testament.

While this devotional book has prepped me for class assignments, there are some days that “Connect the Testaments” does not seem to connect. This is one of those days, at least it started out that way.

The OT reading for the past few days is about the allotment of land after the children of God entered the Promised Land. Today it finished those descriptions then goes into God’s provision for manslaughter. Instead of throwing that person in a prison, God provides a different and unusual arrangement.

Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Say to the people of Israel, ‘Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, that the manslayer who strikes any person without intent or unknowingly may flee there. They shall be for you a refuge from the avenger of blood. He shall flee to one of these cities and shall stand at the entrance of the gate of the city and explain his case to the elders of that city. Then they shall take him into the city and give him a place, and he shall remain with them. And if the avenger of blood pursues him, they shall not give up the manslayer into his hand, because he struck his neighbor unknowingly, and did not hate him in the past. And he shall remain in that city until he has stood before the congregation for judgment, until the death of him who is high priest at the time. Then the manslayer may return to his own town and his own home, to the town from which he fled.’” (Joshua 20:1–6)

While leaving home and family to live in another city could be considered a sort of ‘imprisonment,’ this is far better than having someone do the ‘eye for an eye’ thing and wind up dead because of an accidental death of a relative or friend. With this arrangement, a trial still happens, but more to establish innocence for the person who fled those who sought revenge.

Children and the occasional adult says, “But I didn’t mean to hurt anyone.” I’ve never liked that excuse. To me, whoever says it is at least guilty of thoughtlessness. However, reading God’s view of accidents has me rethinking my opinion. I should be more merciful.

The NT reading has nothing to do with accidents and escaping retaliation, but it does cause more rethinking, this time about actions that go against the will of God. Paul had been to Corinth and wrote letters rebuking the sins he found in the lives of God’s people in that city. He notes that this congregation is slow with repentance. He says, “For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.” (2 Corinthians 12:20–21)

These Christians didn’t easily change their ways. They didn’t like being corrected either and had to be rebuked for having too high a view of themselves. I can relate to those problems. I am proud, don’t like being corrected, and am often slow to repent. When in those states, I’m feisty, quarrelsome, and easily become angry.

But I can also relate to Paul. Even though I sin too, I want every sin, even the thought of sin, out of my life, even out of the lives of all Christians. God’s goal is that we are changed people, becoming more and more like Jesus Christ each day. However, I cannot make that happen. If I could, Jesus would not have had to come and die for me.

It is at this point where I can see a connection between these reading from both Testaments. I cannot change others. I cannot even change myself, but when we who are the people of God step into eternity, we will be like Jesus. He can make those changes happen. In fact, He began that work the moment that we put our faith in Him.

But in the meantime, and here is the connection, my daily prayer is like David’s prayer from Psalm 57:2: “I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me” and not only for me, but for all of His children.

Purpose in life? It is not complaining!

We stopped for fuel in a tiny roadside town with a population of less than a few dozen. While I could not imagine spending my whole life in that place, I have to think that God puts people where He wants them, each with a purpose for being there.

Joseph wound up in Egypt for a purpose. His brothers betrayed him and sold him into slavery. When he rescued them from famine, they were terrified, but he reassured them. Then, when their father died, they were afraid again, but Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. (Genesis 50:19–21)

That was an important purpose. Jesus would be born through the line of Judah, so this brother could not die in a famine. By the grace of God and the obedience of Joseph, all were saved.

Later, the people in the lineage of Jesus would have to be saved again, this time from the Egyptians. After Joseph died, another Pharaoh came along and was not so favorable to God’s people. They would need to escape, but before that happened, Joseph told them that it would . . .

So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father’s house. Joseph lived 110 years. And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph’s own. And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” (Genesis 50:22–24)

Joseph is one of the people I look forward to meeting in heaven. He was wise and trusted God to take care of him and his family. Solomon was another wise man, perhaps with a few more foibles than most, but he did offer many words of wisdom in his proverbs and also Ecclesiastes. I particularly like the ending of this book . . .

The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:11–14)

Much study is a weariness of the flesh! No kidding. I am tired of reading, tired of hearing long theological arguments that have little to do with practical life situations, and tired of trying to remember the meaning of words like fallibilism and fideism. It’s been a long day/week/month of reading, taking notes, and listening to lectures. Even the professor giving the lectures admits that some of this is tedious.

On good days, I’m thrilled with all that I’m learning, but today is not one of those. So God, in His way of knowing what to say to me and when to say it, gives me these verses in my final devotional reading . . .

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. (Hebrews 12:1–4)

The sins I struggle with today are procrastination, being unthankful, skepticism, laziness, complaining, and just plain grumpiness. God shakes His head at me. What I’m called to do is nothing like the tasks He gave Joseph, and nothing like the challenges He gave Solomon, and a pittance compared to the mission of Jesus Christ. I need to confess all this, stop complaining, and be thankful, and then joyfully get back to work.

Image Bearers

We got up at 4:30 am and were in Chicago by noon, then Charlotte, NC by mid-afternoon. The airports were busy, even too much for a people-watcher like me. However, I couldn’t miss the leather jacket on the fellow in front of me at an immigration line. I could not see his face, but by the picture on the back, I didn’t want to.
 

My first thought was that we are all created to image God. Like some mirrors, some give very good reflections. Others are more like those mirrors in the fun house sending back grotesque and distorted images. Some are covered with grime and the image is almost impossible to see. As I was thinking these things, my husband said, “That fellow is sending quite the message.”

While it is usually not a good idea to judge a book by its cover, people do judge us by our outward appearance. We are also evaluated by how we behave, our habits and preferences, and the way we talk. In all of this, I know that God wants me to be an adequate expression of Him.

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Giving God glory isn’t something done for God. He cannot be any more glorious than He already is. How I can do it is by proclaiming His glory, and for that, He invites me to point out and praise all that He has done. All creation does it. Consider the stars and even Venus shining in the evening sky. . .

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. (Psalm 19:1)

I don’t have a “heavenly” body, but He also wants me to also glorify Him with the one I do have. He says, “For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:20) This means living a holy life that honors Him in all that I do.

This includes my speech too, for God says that “the one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” (Psalm 50:23) Besides honoring God by verbal thanksgiving, this also opens my life to seeing more of what God is doing. That is, when I glorify Him, He shows me more of His glory.

Besides that, when I honor Him, He shows others more of His glory also. “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

The man in the leather jacket wore images of evil things and emblems of a debauched lifestyle. I hope that he will someday discover the noble calling for which he was created, get rid of that awful jacket, and reflect the glory of the God who created him.

Last night, after posting this, I laid in bed thinking this is not right. I am just as poor an image-bearer when I put down another person as if I know everything about him by his jacket. Shame on me.