What is your purpose?

Psalm 139:13-16

For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.

Many of you already know that October is Infant/Pregnancy Loss awareness month.  I know there are many of us here that have lived through this loss.  Today, October 20^th, was the due date for my first baby.  Now before you get sad for me, please know that I’m in an excellent spot and have been able to use my loss to help others through such a hard, tragic time in their lives. 

I want us to think about when does life begin?  While there are various political stances on this because of pro-life and pro-choice debates, let’s go to the root of our being, God himself.  The Bible is the word of God so this should be our source.  Here in Psalm 139, we see that even before the body has formed, that our story is written in God’s book.  I love this.  To me, this gives life and meaning to my pregnancy even if I never had the chance to hold that baby.  If it were not for that life, that baby, that I had to lose, I would not have been able to be the encouragement I was to so many other women that have also faced that same loss.  My baby, while I may not have carried her long, had purpose! 

If an unborn baby can carry so much purpose, then think about the purpose that God has for you.  Each of us have been formed with a purpose.  We were carefully knit together in our mother’s womb.  Our days were ordained for each of us. 

Today I want to encourage you to think about what your purpose in life is.  Some of you may know it, others may have to dig deep to figure it out.  Once you know your purpose, make sure to thank God for it and live it out.

Thursday Devotional - Criticism or Prayer?

Romans 1:8-10  “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.  God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.”   Romans 1:8-10

Paul prayed constantly for the fellow believers in Rome. Do you and I pray mostly for our own needs? Or do you and I often pray for the needs of others?

Our prayers reflect the attitudes of our heart. If we truly listen to how and what we are praying, we will be able to determine areas of selfishness. 

As we pray more for others, though, we will be less likely to criticize. There’s one particular leader at my church that can really frustrate me. I realized I was quick to criticize and not so quick to pray for him. As I’ve prayed some for him, God’s helped me look for the positives instead of only seeing the negatives. He’s also helped me have a better attitude about some of my frustrations.

Who will you thank God for today? How can you also lift them up in prayer and encourage them rather than criticize?

Alice

The Trick Question

Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.  But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 

Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”  Luke 5:29-32 

Have you ever had a trick question?  Here’s a good one.  Adam’s mother had three children.  The first child was named April.  The second child was named May.  What was the third child’s name?  I would of course think of June.  That would be the wrong answer because if Adam’s mom had three children and are the other two are named April and May, the only one left is . . . Adam.  Sometimes people can solve it just by reading it as is.  Other times, things are a bit more complicated.  For example, as Christians, we know we are saved through Jesus Christ.  But once we are saved, does that put us in a place higher than those who are not?  Well, we are given grace through Jesus Christ, and submit to God.  That puts us in a place other than those who have not made that choice.  But does that really make us better? 

We must always remember that although we are saved through Christ all are worthy of God's love.  In reading the story of Levi's conversion, we understand that Levi was a tax collector.  In those times, they were considered the ‘worst of the worst’ people.  Like last week's devotion, we find the Pharisees looking on with disdain questioning why Jesus would hang out with such people.  Jesus answered, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”  Now that sounded like He was out to save Levi and the other non-believers.  However, here’s the trick question. Did this mean the Pharisees did not need to be called because they were righteous?  The answer is no because we know that all fall short of God’s glory!  This means Jesus calls all people regardless of whether they claimed Christ or not.  We might see others who do wrong or are openly living in sin, and not feel they are worth our time.  However, we are to remain humble recognizing that we too need Christ.  We grow in Christ, and we have a heart for Him.  The key to avoid the trick is not substituting us being in a better place by knowing Christ for us being better because we know Christ. 

We are all equal in the eyes of Christ.  Yes, we are thankful for the gift of grace given by God.  That gift is special to us, but God makes each of us special. If we love others as we love Him, others will see how special they are too.  That’s how Jesus saw Levi and his friends; special people who just needed to know how special they were to God.  Let us remember this seeing those like us as brothers and sisters in Christ and those who have not committed as people who need to know how beautiful and special they are to God.  Who can you share the love of Christ with today?  How can you see others unlike you as Christ saw Levi?  My prayer is that we recognize how we all need Jesus Christ, and not fall for ‘the trick question.’  Amen. 

Tues Devo: Reason for love

1 Peter 4:7-11 “The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (NASB)

Hello,

As our culture fights through battles right now, the call for care and love of all people is heard repeatedly. We respond as followers of Christ with an appropriate head nod, because many times in Scripture – including here in 1 Peter – we are instructed to do so. Sometimes this gets us hopeful that people will be geared toward love – so we get fired up and go out and show love…..but in our haste in to find unity in the midst of the cultural battle, hae you slowed down just a bit to ensure you are looking for the right outcome? A chase towards love for the sake or love or unity itself is pointless. There is no tangible end result. But, the chase to show love to bring forward the message of Christ that leads to salvation –now that is where the real reason for love exists. What good is love now, if for eternity those you seek to draw in are dwelling in hell apart from God? True love is not merely (though should include) actions about today – but is driven towards the hope of the cross in Christ.

Have a blessed day – go show some love with eternity in mind,

Will Hill