Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
This is one of my favorite photos I have taken. The way the road is lit reminds me how God’s Word is a Lamp to our feet and a Light to our path. How Jesus is the Way! How He is the Light of the World!
The point I am trying to make with this verse is God has a design for each one of us. God did not create every person for foreign missions. But the foreign missionary He gave from birth a love for variety. A love for strange or unique foods. The ability to see someone that looks so much different and see a beauty in each and every culture or just the people that He is calling them to. Not everyone can live in a super small house with lizards and other things crawling around. But He wires is in a way that helps us in where we are called. To perform His Design on our lives.
Some people were created with a power to make money. Everything God does is part of His Larger Plan to bring a lost world to the foot of the cross of Calvary (Golgotha).
I was talking to a young boy that had his first new car. His car, by design was made to ride down a smooth road, taking corners or on a strtaight highway. AIr Conditioning, nice tires, a full gas tank. But if you took this same car and put it in a lake, it would sink to the bottom. It was not designed a boat.
We are the same way. We were designed for the Glory of God! We have a purpose! It is only in Jesus can this purpose be realized. This is why the enemy of our soul is constantly trying to distract us. The place of our purpose is a place of power! The place of our purpose will glorify God! The place of our purpose will advance the kingdom and push back the kingdom of darkness. Our purpose will have an eternal impact in the lives of others as well as ourselves.
Fulfillment!
Real joy, to be satisfied, does not come from how many worldly possessions we have. It comes from living out God's plan and design for our lives. To do what we were created for. This is what brings joy and fulfillment or the abundant life Jesus promised. (John 10:10).
Eph 2:10 says God prepared in advance, good works for us in Christ. What He has for me to do, you cannot do. Equally what He prepared for you, I cannot do. But we can help each other be what God has called us to be and do what we are called to do.
Many times we have it mixed up. We are planning something and asking God to bless it. What we really should do, is ask God what He is doing and if we can be part of what He is interested in. It takes patience and effort on our part to find God's will for our life. I submit that, living out our design and His plan is where real fulfillment comes. Jesus said it this way, "My meat to eat, is to do the will of the Father". He also said, "I always do what pleases the Father". If God is pleased and no one else is, this is still success'
We were made for His pleasure! We were not designed to continually displease God. Many think we are destined to displease God! First, the only way we can begin to please God is in Christ. Philip asked Jesus how we can please the Father. Jesus replied, "Believe on the One the Father sent.". It is impossible to please God outside of true saving faith in Jesus Christ! Impossible!
Back to Eph 2:10, "We are His Workmanship, created unto good works, in Christ Jesus."
II Cor 5:17, We become a new creation in Christ. II Cor 5:21, we trade our sinful mess for the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.
Romans 12: 1&2 tells us exactly how we find this perfect will of God that is peculiar jor,specific for our lives.
Offer our bodies as a living sacrifice.
Why our bodies? Because our fleshly nature must be crucified! We must identify with the death of Jesus on the cross. Die daily to live abundantly!
Be not conformed to this world!
Our lives are not to be like the pattern this world offers. It would be surprising to most what this really means! The pattern of this world is what every human wants. Health, wealth, knowledge, possessions, security, oinfluence, comfort, family and a heritage. The list goes on! Not all of these are bad within the boundaries of God's will. But how does God's people differ in these things? There is a pattern that this world is constantly trying to mold us. God says, don't let it happen!
Renew your mind!
Renewing our minds is replacing our own thoughts or way of thinking, with God's way of thinking. God has provided the 66 books of the Holy Bible for this purpose. We can have the mind of Christ. Our security from deception is God's Word. We do not need any other book besides The Book!
Then! The word then means after we meet the criteria of the preceding verse.
Living sacrifice, not conforming, renewing our minds, THEN.
Then we will be able to test and approve what the perfect and well pleasing will of God for our lives.
We will approve of God's will.
His will will be well pleasing to us and to Him.
We can know for what we have been created.
Our purpose!! While still in our mother's womb, God wired us, designed in us, gifted us for specific reason.
Fulfillment! Abundant Life! Happiness! Joy! All come from living out His design for us.
God bless!
