by David Brenneman
"Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk. And so I direct in all the churches. Each man must remain in that condition in which he was called. Were you called while a slave? Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather do that. For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord’s freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is Christ’s slave. You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. Brethren, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called." 1 Corinthians 7:17, 20-24.
Did you not realize that there is the timing of God in when you come to Christ for salvation?
Perhaps one of the more famous passages next to John 3:16 would be from Ecclesiates 3 "There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance. A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing. A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace." Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.
For each and every single person who has ever come to Christ...there's a special and specific purpose for them in the plans of God for you and mankind.
You are both uniquely you in Christ and you are in the body of Christ as the Spirit saw fit to place you.
Every normal cell in a human body has a normal use. The abnormal we go through processes to have removed.
In our sanctification process we are both learning to become more like Christ Jesus and to be active in our living out our salvation in our lives. Giving our testimony and if necessary using words.
There are no stagnant parts of the body of Christ. Every part in the body, the Church, has something to be doing.
As Andrew did...pointing people to Jesus. Using that light of Jesus Christ to show a world darkened by sin that there IS a still better way.
Lord willing I am heading into my 6th year of blog writing and every day I am amazed at what God's doing with it. I keep a diary and have written about the past milestones of it and it's beyond my imagination and understanding.
It took many decades to get me ready for my part of the purpose of God for me. It may or may not for you. Some hit the ground running and are immediately effective for the Lord.
There's a running gag that children of Pastors need to be careful because they could someday be a sermon illustration for him. In my looking back over the years and my writings now...God's been accumulating material for me to use in writing.
God will waste nothing of your life in your special and specific purpose in life for Jesus.
Where we see failures He sees steps taken in the Lord towards His purpose. We are never guaranteed an immediate understanding of what goes on in our lives. Interesting to note that for most people we only ask God why when things go awry but rarely do we ask when things go well.
I imagine that when I step into eternity...and after all the things left in the Bible are done...that I am going to be surprised by all the true revelations of the events of my life.
Where I saw pain and hurt, discouragement and failures...God saw something else.
You my Dear Reader when you come to Christ have a very special and specific purpose that's for you in Christ. It's going to be beyond whatever you can ask for or think because none of it could be revealed before you came to Christ Jesus for salvation. You cannot understand what matters of life in Christ are until you came into the Light of Jesus Christ. Likewise it can be compared to understanding colors. Until there's enough light you would never believe nor understand that colors exist.
Your purpose under Heaven is going to be as such that people see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.
You may not think that it's much but then again it's God given so it's everything to Him. Paul wrote something about this.
"For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it." 1 Corinthians 12:14-27.
Lastly...consider the very words of God...
"but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9.
Be in prayer. Pour out your heart before Jesus. King David's Psalms...much of what you read are of him doing just that. Be in the Word of God daily...not just Sundays. The Spirit of God will talk to you through your reading...and you DO want to hear from God don't you?
Be thankful to God for the good, the bad and the ugly of life. You cannot know what the true purpose for all of it is yet. Some of my greatest mistakes are of when I thought I understood it all.
Ask, seek, knock is what Jesus's instructions are to each of us in Christ.
Be ready...because we know not when Jesus will be coming back.
Jesus taught parables on this. Those who were ready and those who weren't.
Pray on, pray over, pray through life.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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