The Purposes of God

The Purposes of God
  
I heard a preacher once say that, if you don’t know God’s purposes for you, then why are you doing what you’re doing? why are you in the place you are in? And what are you doing to find the answers? Seems fair enough to me – how about it?

My wife and I had no idea why we came to our new home town nearly three years ago. All we knew was that, apparently, God wanted us there. We knew just one person in the whole town and nothing about the rest of the whole county. We knew only the reputation of the church we linked up with, but nothing about the people who went there. All we knew was that, apparently, God wanted us there. Then, after we gave up all our old town and left friends and family to migrate 150 miles up country, only then did God really confirm our presence here. Yet still we had no idea of the purpose for us in being here.

We had to wait for that. There were several false starts too. We thought it might be in a certain type of ministry – but it wasn’t there. We thought it might have been among older people – but it wasn’t there. A few things popped up and were validated – yet they were only a side-line to the real purpose. We believe our purpose has been revealed and is validated, although it’s way outside any comfort zone we originally had. Perhaps, had we known then what we know now about our roles, then we would never have stepped up to the plate.

So, what are your purposes in your town, job, or church? Are they God’s purposes or are they your own? If you don’t know the answers, what are you doing to find them? Have you even asked God? It will be an interesting journey that’s for sure. There will be successes as well as failures; foolishness as well as wisdom; mistakes as well as good decisions. It may not be all plain sailing but be assured of this – once God has His hand on your life, it will never be the same again. He has a plan for you and, only if you are willing, He will get you there – kicking and screaming if necessary. Yet there’s the rub. You have a choice. Follow God or follow your own path.

I wonder if you’ll allow Him to take you where He wants you? Or will you wander off track in your own direction? This is too important to get wrong and it’s never too late to start getting it right either. But that’s your Father God – infinite patience, grace and mercy, as well as infinite wisdom and resources – all just waiting for you to say “Yes Lord, I surrender. Lead me on to where you want me.”