In my lifetime, I have read dozens of “how to” books, full of advice for finding my best life. A stand-out that is memorable is Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Successful People. Some were worth the time to read, if not memorable. Despite my best efforts and the good advice of others I know this: I only live my best life when my will is aligned with the purposes of God. This week I was struck by a line in the book of Acts – "When David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep." (Acts 13:36, NIV)
It’s a question I ponder - am I living to serve God’s purposes for my time? We cannot aspire to that lofty goal unless we are transformed by the Spirit. The Christian life is more than a self-help program. It is a Spirit experience, God working in us. When we are loved by God and love Him in return, trusting Christ Jesus with our life and destiny, letting Him be Lord, He promises something amazing: He will “do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power! " (Ephesians 3:20, NIV)
Let’s not confuse ‘serving God’s purpose in our generation’ with religiosity or serving on church committees. It is quite possible to remain a miserable person living far below your God-given potential while sitting through church. God’s Church has an irreplaceable place in the Christian life but true change is personal, starting in the individual’s heart. Only when we experience, by faith, the Gospel, the daily inner transformation of eternal life, will the purpose of God be revealed. We love God by surrendering ourselves to Him and accepting Christ's love and mercy by faith, by pondering His mighty works worshipfully, and by allowing the Spirit to move deeply in us. That inner work will surely produce spiritual fruit – love joy, peace – the evidence of His life.
Receiving God's grace and practicing the disciplines of the Spirit as taught in the Scripture opens the door to maximum living, making us into the best possible person we can be! Because of Christ, we can be forgiving, gentle, and loving. In Him we find that hope that is so critically important to keeping us from becoming bitter, broken, or cynical by life’s disappointments. The Creator of the Universe points His Spirit in us and inspires us to be creative, part of the answer for the questions of this broken planet.
Are you trying to ‘make a life’ apart from God? Do your efforts come up short of your expectations? Are you asking questions like that rich young noble asked of Jesus: “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” The answer remains the same today as it was then – receive the kingdom of God by faith, making Jesus Lord of life and accepting His grace for each day. We walk it out and if we are led by the Spirit, when our race is run, it will be said of us what was said of David: He “served God’s purpose in his own generation.”
Thank God for the potential He's given you.
Ask Him to inspire you to be the best you can be in His grace.
Never just settle for what is easy, or natural!
Let God make a masterpiece of your life.
Our word from the Word, is a prayer that Paul offered for those he loved in the church in Ephesus. I pray it for you. Receive it with your amen "I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength— that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:16-19, The Message) Amen.
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Heartbreak's a bitter sound
Know it well, it's ringing in my ears
And I can't understand
Why I'm not fixed by now,
Begged and I have pleaded
Take this pain, but I'm still bleeding
Heart trusts you for certain
Head says it's not working
I'm stuck here still hurting
But You tell me
You're making a masterpiece
You're shaping the soul in me
You're moving where I can't see
And all I am, is in Your hands
You're taking me all apart
Like it was your plan from the start
To finish your work of art, for all to see
You're making a masterpiece
Guess I'm Your canvas
Beautiful, black and blue
Painted in mercy's hue
I don't see past this
But you see me now, who I'll be then
There at the end, standing there as
Your Masterpiece
You're shaping the soul in me
You're moving where I can't see
And all I am, is in Your hands
You're taking me all apart
Like it was your plan from the start
To finish your work of art, for all to see
You're making a masterpiece
You're making a masterpiece
Heart trust you for certain
Head says it's not working
You're making a masterpiece
You're shaping the soul in me
You're moving where I can't see
And all I am, is in Your hands
You're taking me all apart
Like it was your plan from the start
To finish your work of art, for all to see
You're making a masterpiece
You're making a masterpiece
I'll be Your masterpiece
- Danny Gokey
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