Mar 15 2008
Designed by God
by Max Lucado
“If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies.”
I Peter 4:11 NKJV
God shaped you according to your purpose. How else can you explain yourself? Your ability to diagnose an engine problem by the noise it makes; to bake a cake without a recipe. You knew the Civil War better than your American history teacher. You know the name of every kid in the orphanage. How do you explain such quirks of skill?
God. He knew young Israel would need a code, so he gave Moses a love for the law. He knew the doctrine of grace would need a fiery advocate, so he set Paul ablaze. And in your case, he knew what your generation would need and gave it. He designed you. And his design defines your destiny. Remember Peter’s admonition? “If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies.”
what an encouragement!
So often I feel unqualifed and yet this devotion reminds me that God has equipped me for the purpose He has set out for me-not anyone else!
I rejoice in knowing that God knows me so well and has a unique plan and purpose for my being here on this planet at this time in this city! I look forward to what He is going to do through me.
The person before me considers these words as encouragement. I cannot do the same. I am new to the saving grace of God and his love. I feel more unworthy than ever when reading Peter’s admonition. How do I have any idea as to what abilities God has given me…..and then….I must use then to share with others who do not know God?
I pray every day and look for some kind of sign that God wants something good from me; but, I have yet to find a sign. I imagine I will and should just keep praying to Him and eventually……
Bonnie,
Welcome to the family of God. Imperfect, yet He loves us for who we are and what we are becoming through the grace of Jesus.
God will probably not sky write what He wants you to do. He has already shared that with each of us through His word. Matt. 29:19-20 simply instructs you and me to: “Go and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…”
Each of us at the time of conversion is equipped with a tool to do this with; our testimony. Nothing is more powerful or more pursuasive that the simple story of how our life was a wreck, Jesus found us and is now putting us back together, better than new. Look for opportunities with anyone you are conected with throughout the day to share the “Good News” of the saving grace of Jesus.
Go back and read Mark 5:1-20 and read about the demoniac. Absolutley no skills at all to share the Gospel. But what he knew he shared. When Jesus returned later to the area the whole town came out to hear Him. Based on the simple testimony of the demoniac.
God bless you as you grow and share what Jesus has done and is doing in your life. As you share, your “tool” will get clearer and stronger to perform it’s purpose: Leading others to Christ. Glod will be your guide step by step. I’ll be praying for you.
Hey Bonnie,
I welcome you into the family of God also.
As today’s scrupture so eloquently says, God has given us the tools to minister to our generation TODAY. He has equipped us for this task and each with different gifts and talents. Each of us has a heart for something different and all can be used by God for his purpose to bring his truth to a hurting generation.
I was so stuck on revealing what my purpose was, that for years I missed what God was trying to say to me. Then I heard Bobby Houston say “Find out what breaks God’s heart, allow it to break your heart and you’ll find yourself smack in the middle of your calling.” She went onto say that God does not want it to be a secret, he wants us to live out our purpose.
I decided to relax rather than look under every bush, so to speak, then one day, quite out of the blue I discovered what breaks God’s heart. I didn’t have to allow it to break my heart, my heart just broke. For four days I sobbed and literally thought my heart had broken, and then for weeks couldn’t dismiss it from my mind. When I stepped back I could see that pathway to this point. God had given me some talents and gifts but it had taken time to perfect them. God took his time to prepare me for this moment in time, a time that is just perfect for his TRUTH to be shared nationwide.
God’s word is his confirmation of the truth. Get it on the inside of you and when those moments arise, you’ll discover the TRUTH inside you to share with others and as Steve says, “your “Tool” will get clearer and stronger to perform it’s purpose.”
Bless you Bonnie as you walk your journey. I’ll be praying for you also.
Like Bonnie, I had no clue what God wants me to do. I have read lots of things even the Purpose Driven Life hoping to get an idea. I have done different things in the church. What I just figured out from Max Lucado is I have been looking to hard and waiting for a sign from God. What are my God given talents, what are my quirks? I don’t bake, I don’t know anything about cars, I don’t really like history, I do remember names, I don’t sing, but the one thing that sticks out in my mind - I love to research and investigate things and I am great at it.
I don’t like the work I do, but occasionally I do get to research items, and I love it. Digging until I get to the bottom of an issue.
I have always wanted to be an investigator, etc. I have talked about trying to get involved with law enforcement. Until today, I never thought about using this skill for God. God can use me to bring families I will work with to God for comfort.
Bonnie: You have something you are great at.
Dear Bonnie and Wendy,
You both remind me of myself. I struggled for the past couple of years waiting for an explicit sign and completely mapped out plan from God telling me what my purpose is and what I should do with my life. It never came. Well, it never came the way that I had expected. I attended a leadership conference at my church last year. I usually don’t attend those, but God was really putting it on my heart to go. So I went. And it was about discovering your purpose. It changed my life. I learned that I should continue to do what I am doing on a daily basis and to use what God has given me for the moment. Do it the best I can. With your daily activities, God is preparing you for the bigger purpose. As you do this, listen, really listen, to the clues God shows you. You are not going to have your purpose spelled out for you. It’s more like a puzzle. Pay attention to the things that excite you, make you happy, make you feel at peace, give you energy, and make you smile. God will reveal your purpose to you gradually. I started to pay attention and things began to make sense for me. I was able to see the small signs God was showing to me and was even able to trace back these signs to 10 years ago. It’s amazing and I pray the same for both of you.
Steve, Is there anyway to send these comments to Bonnie and Wendy’s email. I hope they come back to check on these responses.
Lauren: I got your feedback. Thank you.