I love the Bible. While reading scriptures one day a while ago, this jumped off the page into my heart!
For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation,
fell asleep… (Acts 13:36)
I was gripped with the thought that David finished his purpose on earth before he “fell asleep” (a.k.a. “died”). That challenged me once again to put high priority on my God-given purpose and calling, to serve Him faithfully all the days of my life.
How About You?
Are you committed to finding your purpose and running with it? Have you found your passion, that thing which makes you tick? Purpose that gives you a buzz?!
As human beings crafted in God’s likeness and His image, we have so much potential to explore and a lifelong mission to fulfill. We have all been created with beautiful gifts and talents. He led captivity captive and gave gifts to men. (Eph. 4:8)
Do you have a sense of what God has created you to do and be? What are the gifts inside you that maybe have not been tapped into yet?
Every person on the face of the earth is unique and special. Everyone has something to bring to the table and minister to someone else. Even disabled children have been used greatly to teach us life lessons of love and patience. The poor have challenged us to be grateful and generous. Every one of us has something special, and like David we should take whatever we have and serve that purpose to the best of our ability. The great apostle Peter said it like this:
God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts.
Use them well to serve one another. (1 Peter 4:10)
You are a valuable person in God’s eyes, and YOU CAN add value to others. Don’t underestimate all He has given you to help others. Maybe it’s a smile, opening a door, helping someone into the car, cooking a meal for a needy family, helping someone get through a rough time. God’s church is the amazing, beautiful body of Christ full of beautiful talents.
One of the great inventors of our time, Buckminster Fuller, said it this way,
The purpose of our lives is to add value to the people
of this generation and those that follow.
We are all living in the blessings of what others have accomplished who carried this same mindset. The computer I am typing on right now was created by a man who had God-given gifts on the inside. He chased after his dream, creating this amazing machine. Electricity, our phones and their connectivity, Wi-Fi, running water, transportation, and the examples go on and on. It’s amazing what can be done when men and women dig deep into their God-given gifts, pursuing ideas which in turn help humanity.
Warren Buffett said, Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone [else] planted a tree a long time ago.
So that poses the question: What tree are we planting today for someone else to enjoy later? What can we do to add value to someone today and for the next generation? What will we leave for our children and grandchildren?
There should be a drive, a wonder, anticipation in our hearts to explore and discover ALL of what God has created us for. You may be involved in one career today but be doing something totally different next year. Heck, tomorrow you may even invent something or find the solution to one of the world’s greatest needs!
Think out of the box. Let your heart dream a little! Like God said to Abraham, Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have! (Genesis 15:5)
I quote this often but it grips me every day:
I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus has taken hold of me.
(Philippians 3:12)
This scripture drives me! It charged me when I first met the Lord, and still does today! Christ has “taken hold” of us all for special purposes, and we should be constantly pressing in to uncover and accomplish those purposes.
Let’s complete our race and accomplish all we are capable of, and be ALL God has planned for us to be in our short lifetime. Let’s arrive in Heaven depleted of every ounce of potential the Lord placed inside us for this earth life!
In closing, let me say it like this: Don’t be “sleeping” on the job. David finished his purpose on earth and then fell asleep. I see too many people alive but sleeping. How sad is that? Wake up and see all God has for you, and pursue it with all of your heart! This world needs what YOU have.
Blessings,
P.S. We’d love to hear what you are passionate about! Go to our Facebook page and tell us something which gives you a buzz, adding value to someone else!
