God's Will and Purpose

So, my young friend going through her "early mid-life crisis" is afraid she's missed God's call on her life and is now a second-class Christian in God's eyes. Oh the pain of believing your God is so little. I know. I've been there. So, my plan for our next get-together is the following, entrenched with the prayer of Ephesians 1:15-23 and Colossians 1:9-10.

1. What is God's will for me? And how is it accomplished?

• I Thess 4:3a: my sanctification
• Romans 8:29: to be conformed to the image of His Son
• Eph 1:4b, Eph 5:27c, Col 1:22b: that I should be holy and blameless before Him, without blemish, above reproach
• Phil 1:6b: He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.
• Eph 5:25b-27, I Cor 1:30: Christ loving me and giving Himself up for me sanctifies me, He cleanses me, He is my sanctification
• 2 Thess 2:13c: sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth

2. How does sanctification benefit me (Eph 2:1-7)?

• As I become more like Christ, the life God designed for man, I grow toward the fulfillment and satisfaction for which I long.

3. If God has a unique purpose/plan/calling for my life, can it be thwarted?

• Jer 1:12b, I am watching over My word to perform it.
• Isa 46:11b, I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.
• Eph 1:11b, according to the purpose of [God] who works all things according to the counsel of His will.
• Gen 21:1, The Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as He had promised.
• Jonah 1:4, 7b, 13, 14b, 17a, 2:10, 3:10-4:2
• Joseph: his brothers sold him into slavery to a far-off country where either he would die or at least they would never see him again to fulfill his dreams; God brought the dreamers to Joseph; God reminded the butler of Joseph; God gave Joseph the wisdom to answer Pharaoh's dilemma.

4. Consider characters from the Bible. What "unique purpose" defined their life as we know it? How did that unique purpose unfold in their lives? How did they respond to the situations in their life leading up to the fulfillment?

• Adam, Abraham, Sarah, Joseph, David, Esther, Ruth, Jonah, Jesus.
• All very different stories. God fulfilled the "defining" purpose in each life. Yet, which of them knew this would define their lives to future generations?
• All different responses.  Most of them simply were "in the way" of living the life set before them.

5. What if I want a different "unique purpose" than the one God is unfolding in my life?

• I Thess 5:18, In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

6. If I am not responsible for finding and fulfilling God's purpose for my life, then what am I supposed to do in this life, today?

• I participate in my sanctification by acknowledging that it is Christ who sanctifies me by His power. I look to His hand as a handmaiden looks to her mistress -- utterly dependant, completely helpless without His favor, without Him moving His hand to meet my need for sanctification. By studying the Bible, I have come to see that He desires to meet my need and that it gives Him great delight to meet my need and that this grace toward me is His glory!
• Thus, I abide in Him, meeting Him where He cleanses me; ie. in His Word, and asking Him to enlighten the eyes of my heart (Eph 1:18a ff) that I may grow in the knowledge of His will. I read and study and think on His Word. I pay close heed to the preachers, teachers, evangelists, prophets, apostles that God has placed in my life who care for my soul.
• When I know what His will is, I obey Him, thanking Him that He gives me divine power to grow in my obedience (Eph 1:19-23, Col 1:3ff).
• I remain faithful to Him (Col 1:23), continuing to meet Him in His Word, knowing that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

7. What is the outcome of abiding in Him/His Word, of obeying Him/His Word, of remaining faithful to Him/His Word?

• John 15: He produces fruit in these good works. (Caveat: this fruit is not for me to eat -- it will not sustain or satisfy me! My sustenance is the life of Christ that abides in me.)
• He reveals more of Himself to me (the knowledge of God), producing in me greater love and greater loyalty to Him, becoming more like the One I adore.

8. Having tasted that God is good, my thirst is simultaneously quenched and peaked so that I desire to drink more from this life-giving, life-producing fountain. As I abide, obey and remain faithful, Christ's character is worked out in me and I find a deep joy and satisfaction in God, causing me to uniquely:

• love my Christian family... (John 13:34)
• do good to all men, especially those of the household of faith...(Galatians 6:10)
• build up the body of Christ... (Eph 4:12b, Col 1:28)
• do the Next Thing...(Elisabeth Elliot)
• pursue the gladness of others in God (John Piper, Don't Waste Your Life)

I may or may not know until eternity what my "unique purpose" in life is, but I will give thanks and remain faithful to what God sets before me, looking unto Jesus (and what a deep treasure that is! Col 2:3), the author and finisher of my faith.

Our God is a gracious and loving God. I love especially Ephesians where God's love for me flows on and on. Take heart, my friend. We have a hope and a future with our giving and forgiving God. Do not grow weary in well doing. There is so much to look forward to if we do not quit after stumbling.

On a good path: follow-up to Roundabout

Wow, God, you're neat!

One of the single gals from my small group that I invited over for lunch last week asked me to mentor her! I am thrilled!!! We'll meet once a month for lunch before small group. I am to encourage her in her quest for trusting God in discovering His call for her. Does that sound familiar to anyone who has known me for the past 10 years!!?? Yes, I'm only slightly ahead of her in the journey. But, four things I know with absolute certainty:

1. We will only bear fruit as we abide in the Vine. 
2. His will for us is our sanctification.
3. From the foundations of the word, He has established good works for us to do.
4. We can do all things through Christ who is our strength.

I wonder if she has any idea of the plan I have in mind for her (us!).... Being the Planner/ Educator/ Cheer Leader that I am, I will need to remember to use this as an excellent opportunity to grow in my listening and obeying the leading of God's Spirit, not merely depending on my own strengths.

Hm, yes, I think He has great plans in mind for both of us.

Roundabouts: an exercise in decision-making

I love navigating country roads in Europe thanks to Europe's directional road signs. For example, when you come upon a roundabout, cities of note are listed with an arrow pointing to the corresponding exit. It's common knowledge that the larger towns listed in the roundabouts are not necessarily the first ones down the road. They may not even be your final destination. They are simply in the direction that you will be headed. You won't get lost, as long as you know your destination.

So, last Sunday I'm sitting in church, the service has already started, and a man who looks like Ricardo sits down on my right with one person between us. I keep glancing over at him out of the corner of my eye. Is he noticing me? Does he have a ring on his finger? On my left is a non-descript middle-aged couple (that is, they are perhaps 10 years more middle-aged than I am...), and the gentleman keeps glancing at me, kindly. Do I need a piece of gum? Am I singing too loudly? Do they need more space? Then there is the preacher whose sermon is calling us to disciple younger believers. It is a call that has long been growing in my own heart. What is the road to fulfill that calling?

The sermon is coming to a close, and I'm circling in my roundabout. Ricardo? The unknown couple? The sermon action point? Stay the present course?

1. The unknown couple to my left immediately turns to introduce themselves. She's involved with discipling Christian speech students. She writes down my e-mail address to send me more information.
2. I turn around, Ricardo has disappeared....
3. I turn toward the big screen that lists the web site on disciple-making and memorize it.
4. My present course: Children's Sunday School.

A few days pass. I've not heard from my new speech friend, and the web site on disciple-making does not offer any defining information. I'm circling the roundabout, considering my options:

1. The unknown couple's invitation: I am capable, interested, and willing. Perhaps this is my next destination? Maybe. I'd either have to find the woman or wait for her to contact me in the future.
2. If Ricardo and I were to marry, would we adopt children to disciple together? Maybe. Umm, where's Ricardo...?
3. My heart rises up to encourage Christian single women in their walk with God. Perhaps the formal spring board offered at church would be a good place to start? Maybe. I'd have to investigate further.
4. My present course. Hmm, let's circle the roundabout again and reflect on what is down this road: 

• I have beautiful children with listening ears who are waiting for me in Sunday School. I can continue focusing prayer and energy into helping them internalize what they are learning about God.
• I have young single gals in my small group who respond readily to building a relationship. I can invite them over for lunch again this Sunday. 
• I have friends and family with whom I am Global Partners. I can continue focusing prayer and energy into encouraging them in their walk with God.
• I myself am conducting due diligence regarding a career change, and it is very time-consuming at the moment. So far I sense God's leading in this. Interestingly, this change would provide learning opportunities that would support discipling.

While you may continue circling in the roundabout, at some point you really should choose an exit. I can see that my present course provides ready opportunities for disciple-making and is adequately full. I have no need to change direction. I will stay the course.

In the countryside, you can follow an exit to a little town and there find a road leading to a town you skirted earlier in order to get to the one you're in now. Some days, you can go exploring. Other days, you need to stay the course. One thing is certain: You can't stall out in the roundabouts. To reach your destination, you have to make a decision.