What’s it feel like when you find
your place? Have you ever been
out of place or have something that was missing from its place?
What does it feel like when you find something that has been lost and
then it is put back into the use that it was created for?
What does it feel like when you find the place that God created you
for?
During our church's worship service,
the pastor invites all the young children to join him near the altar for the
"Children's Moments Sermon." One
day, with seven small children in attendance, he spoke about the ingredients
required to make up a church, using a chocolate chip cookie as an example. He
explained to the children that, as with a cookie requiring ingredients such as
sugar and eggs, the church needed ingredients to make up the congregation.
Holding a cookie aloft, he asked, "If I took the chocolate chips out of
this cookie, what would I have?" A shy six-year-odd raised his hand.
"Six less grams of fat," he replied.
-- Kristine Payne, Reader's Digest, June 1995, p. 98-99.
Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye
present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is]
your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that
good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace
given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think [of himself] more
highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath
dealt to every man the measure of faith.
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the
same office: 5 So we, [being] many, are one body in Christ, and every one
members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace
that is given to us, whether prophecy, [let us prophesy] according to the
proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, [let us wait] on [our] ministering: or he
that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that
giveth, [let him do it] with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he
that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Does
everything have a place? Things
that are used constantly are placed in spots where they can be easily accessed
and readily used, but those that seldom find a use are generally put into a
place where they won’t be in the way. Which
would you say that you are in God’s house of tools and instruments?
If we would be put away so that we wouldn’t be in the way then all we
have to do is nothing. But, if we
don’t want to be on to the shelf then seek God’s will for your life and go
for it!
Does
everybody fit in? Everyone
was created to fit in, but God still allows us all the choice to belong if we
want to. It’s up to us to
decide if we will be actively used by the Lord as His tools. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
How can you fit?
How can you find your place with the Lord?
Present
us to God as a living sacrifice.
Here we are Lord. Do what you will with us.
With
careful thought and prayer consider
how you give yourself to the Lord.
Be
transformed into his design
for your life. Ask for his
direction. Follow His will for
you.
Let
Him change you
and your thoughts toward Him, others, your self, and life.
Be changed to his way of
thinking. (and
you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.)
Consider how much the Lord has given for you and then reason how much
we should give to Him. This is
your reasonable service.
Don’t
think too highly of yourself.
Remember who you are and who God created you to be.
We are all different
but we are all important to the body of the Lord.
No one is too small or too big for the Lord’s work.
We all
have a place.
Have you found yours? Do
you want to?
Will
that place change?
Can you change? Will you
change?
Preach,
minister, give, lead, and give mercy with the grace that the Lord gives.
Will
you become committed to God’s design for your life?
This
is the most important aspect of the Lord’s work.
It is that which will push you to the next level of your Christian
walk.
Some years ago I was told of a young Jewish man from
the United States who decided to go to Israel and live.
After working there for two years he was required either to serve in
the army for a given period of time or to return home. He decided to join the army.
His father was a good friend of an Israeli general, who at first was
afraid the young man would use that friendship to secure an easy, safe
assignment. Instead, he went to
the general and said, "My present duty is too easy. I want to be in the finest, most strategic, diligent, and
difficult regiment in the Israeli army." Commenting on that spirit of
dedication, the general said, "People think Israelis are so successful at
war because we are a super people or that we have super intellect or super
strength. But our success is not
built on any of those things; it is built on commitment, unreserved and
sacrificial commitment." From
Bible Illustrator.