Day 334 - The Cause

"They are sweet people and their hearts are starting to long for involvement in a purpose and a cause for Christ."

No one who is truly saved can live a life without purpose. No matter your occupation or your situation there is a cause. The reason we exist is to love God and to make Him known. This is the cause of Christ. 

The Bible tells us that before we were saved we had aimless conduct. We see that in our endeavors before Christ. We would bounce from one thing to another thinking we knew what was important. Looking back now we understand the end of those roads was dead and empty. 

Now that we have given our hearts to the Lord we know there are better things in store for us. We have a reason to live and to love others. When we see others living an aimless purposeless life we know the way and can show it to them. 

King David when confronted by a terrible enemy who was breathing out blasphemies looked at an army that was too scared to fight and said "Is there not a cause?" When we are lifeless and shaking in fear from an enemy who is already defeated we need to shake ourselves and get back to our purpose. 

We have a cause and we have a reason for living. Let's pursue it with everything we have. 

How can we discover more of our purpose? In what way does the cause motivate us?

Day 271 - If I Ran The World

"I am reading in 1 Kings 20 how God delivered the Syrians to King Ahab. It is so opposite of what we would do for a sinful King like Ahab was. Here God gives a special prophecy, the plan and hands the leadership and the victory to Ahab. Even after all that Ahab still turns his back on the God who delivered him."

If I ran the world it would not look like it does today. I would have wiped out a lot of people by now and made a mess of things. Thank God He is perfect and has eternity in mind. God knows what He is doing. 

It is easy for me to look around and see suffering and injustice and get discouraged or distracted. The questions of 'why?' come to mind. What I have to come back to is that God is good no matter what and His patience and long-suffering are for the salvation of the lost. 

We know that God had a purpose in handing a wicked King like Ahab a victory. He also had a purpose with Nebuchadnezzar and Rome and so many others throughout history. We could wonder at why God would allow genocide and sex-trafficking. Why would God allow the wicked to prosper? 

These questions have driven many away from God. There is a man in the Bible who had the same questions. He saw the wicked prosper and was grieved. He didn't understand at all until he went to the House of God. It was there he understood the end. God sees the whole picture. Even though the wicked may prosper here on earth they will receive according to their works in eternity. The same goes for those who are Godly. We may receive evil and hard things here on earth but we will receive according to our works in eternity. 

We should consider that God will tell the end of the story. He has the final word. Ahab may have lived life in a palace but he died on the battlefield and the dogs licked up his blood. His wife had a terrible death and his family was all cut off from the earth quickly. 

Don't fear. God is on your side and loves you. Follow Him and His ways and He will take care of you. Bless and do not curse, forgive and love. God Himself will repay and He will settle all accounts on the final day. 

How different would the world be if you ran it? What scriptures remind us that God is in control?

Day 135 - Another Busy Day

"Another busy day."

There is a danger of being busy and losing track of the day. Sometimes the busyness gets to where we lose track of days on end. 

I am glad that I wrote more than this three word sentence that opened the thoughts from the day. Had I left this my only thought I would have lost a day. What a waste it would have been. 

The good news is that I wrote a whole lot more about what actually happened on this day. It was a day filled with activity, emotion, humor, significance and so much more. It was an important day and by no means a waste. 

We need to make sure that we have more than just busy days. We should always endeavor to see past just the plans and get to the purpose of God for the day. After all, He made the day. He has a purpose for it. Don't let busy creep in and steal significance from you. 

How do you guard against busyness wasting or stealing your days? How can we find the purposes of God amidst a busy life?

Day 14 - Purpose

"I read the account of David and Goliath again today. Every time I read it there is a fresh revelation in there. This time was the fact the before David left to fight the giant he took his staff with him. A shepherd's staff no doubt. He had left the 'few sheep' of his father and was headed to an event that would promote him to public fame and prepare the people for him to become their favored king. He did not leave his staff behind. His staff represented who he was. David would be shepherd of his Father's sheep...Israel."

God uses who you are to shape who you will become. A prime example is Barnabas. He was named "The son of encouragement". No wonder God would use him to encourage a converted Saul of Tarsus early in ministry to become Paul the Apostle.

God has given you gifts, talents, abilities and a unique personality that he will use in your future for where He is calling you to. Don't despise it or leave it behind. You will be glad you did!

Have you seen any instances of God using your unique make up for a position or place He called you to?