God’s Purpose and You

The last month or so many of us have been concerned about destiny, purpose and who is supposed to do what.

I have said previously, that it is God’s purpose and destiny that I make myself aware of. In the process I get what I need for my personal “destiny.” I do not focus on what I am going to do, but simply being a vessel that is yielded to Him that He might express His life through me. Waiting on Him is important. James 1:4 So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.What about the desires of my heart? I hear that a lot. I also know that James had this to say in chapter 4-1 Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. 2 You lust for what you don’t have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn’t yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it. 3 And why not? Because you know you’d be asking for what you have no right to. You’re spoiled children, each wanting your own way. 4 You’re cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. 5 And do you suppose God doesn’t care? The proverb has it that “he’s a fiercely jealous lover.”

Wow! That is pretty rough one might think. We love that He is a “jealous” lover until it runs up against our grill and someone gets in front of us. I often think that a lot of our stops are because God wants us to stop!

This morning as my wife and I were discussing grace and mercy before she went off to work, I began to see something.

First, we realize God is Spirit. (John 4:24 Some would translate it “a spirit” but it is saying He is Spirit.) And because He is, he goes where “solid” things do not get to go. He moves differently. Let us look at it that way.

I saw a chessboard, with people on it. Settled on the squares (Interestingly it was green and white squares.) The people were in the positions. Now in chess, a king moves differently than a queen or a knight or a bishop. What I saw happening was people crying out, “I am an apostle” or “I am a worship leader” or “I am a king and a priest.” Okay. I really get it. We want to “do” what we are called to do. We do better at it. (As a friend would say “stay in your lane.”) But it was like they were waiting for their move. Because worship leaders move differently than apostles who move differently than others in the body.

But we are in Christ and He is in us. His Spirit moves fluidly, so to speak. Differently. And really, in the body that is in the spirit, it is often difficult to separate. And I think that is the point. There is no “glory” in this game. For starters it is not a game. His purpose is our purpose. I am not defined by my purpose or function so much as I am defined by His purpose being expressed through me. It takes all the pressure off me.

So, rather than striving to be “all one can” be, perhaps it makes sense, to rest and be all He can be through us. I understand it is hard to think like that but He loves you. Just the way you are!