All Scriptures are ESV and are From Biblos.com
As we go through the maze of life in search of opportunities, financial security, recognition, physical fitness, and a better future for our families and friends, we often miss something — the will of God in our pursuits. Every believer is chosen by God and placed in a particular sphere or arena in which he/she is to advance his will. The spectrum of influence is up to us. We can be smoldering wicks, barely noticeable — or we can burn bright and intensely. The choice is ours.
The spiritual paucity of the church in this age is not because of a lack of literature, clever teachings, knowledgeable shepherds or church buildings. The paucity of God’s manifestation in our lives comes down to one thing — a lack of obedience. You see as I near age 46, I am aware of my redemption, righteousness before God, sins, shortcomings, faults and ultimately my dependency upon my savior. I am aware that all of the gifts and talents that he has bestowed upon me are to be used for him, my neighbor and last of all me — in that order! We have it reversed.
If one examines the scriptures it becomes abundantly clear that whenever God truly did something, the direct impact upon the lives of people was evident for all to see. He knows us from beyond the realm of time and space. How heartbreaking it must be that our priorities have been based on man’s election, the sphere they place us in and our battles to increase our influence in a place that is fading away. Still convinced you can do it on your own? Well, you can, but it will have no eternal worth or value. All that you have done will simply be burned up and revealed for all of the shallowness it was — except for what was done in his will. People may thank you here and praise you for your efforts, but don’t expect it from God my friend.
I shudder to think, not about salvation, but all of the wasted effort, thoughts, time and idle talk that I have engaged in, simply passing time and convincing myself of the significance of these activities. (Thank God for his grace!) I remind myself that election and sphere are appointments from Him. The spectrum of my influence is a matter of being a coworker with Christ. “For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.” 1 Cor 3:9
Armed with this knowledge of who we are and how God has uniquely designed us for his purpose, we should ask — is he getting the best of us, our first fruits? If not why? See if you can honestly come up with a legitimate reason when you look in the mirror. As our life continues to unfold and we draw near to Christ, in times of prayer, reflection, devotion and the reading of sacred scripture, our excuses melt away. Will we honor the arena that we have been placed in? Will we increase our spectrum of influence? Have we become satisfied with the favor of the world? We have been appointed by an infallible God who knows what’s best for us. Better saints than us have pressed forward; we should do no less.
God’s Election and Predestination
Jeremiah
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5
Paul
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David
13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.a Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. Psalm 139: 13-16
Sampson
1And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.
2There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children. 3And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. 4Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, 5for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.” 6Then the woman came and told her husband, “A man of God came to me, and his appearance was like the appearance of the angel of God, very awesome. I did not ask him where he was from, and he did not tell me his name, 7but he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. So then drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’” Judges 13:1-7
All Believers
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5he predestined usb for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9making knownc to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. Ephesians 1:3-10
It’s time to end the excuse making and press forward. You will only find rest in your appointed place and in your faithfulness to serve there.