God’s Ordinary People

You and I are ordinary people.  We have no miraculous powers.  We go about our day utilizing the tools God has given us.

We each have a certain measure of intellectual ability at our disposal.  We each have a certain measure of physical ability at our disposal.  And we each have a certain measure of resources available to us depending on where we live and how much money we have in the bank.  Keep in mind, all that we have, is a gift from God.

Only God Knows

Some of us have very little to work with, and others have an abundance.  No one can say why some of us are struggling while others are comfortable and secure.  Only God knows why we are who we are, but we can be certain he has given us all the tools we need to accomplish the goals he has in mind for our lives.

Where you are right now is precisely where God wants you to be.  God placed you there because he has a job for you to do.  You are the only person who can accomplish the task God has designed for your life.  Are you working on God’s assignment or are you trying to go in another direction that you believe will be more fulfilling?

We Have an Enemy

We all get pushed and pulled in different directions every day of our lives.  As believers, we often get pushed and pulled more than others.  As believers, we have an enemy dedicated to moving us away from God’s assignment and off in the direction of selfish ambition.  The Bible tells us:  Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)  The devil is not a factious character made up to keep us doing the right thing – the devil is real and is supported by an army of demonic spirits that seek to destroy the lives of followers of Jesus.  There is a battle going on in this world between good and evil, and as Christians we are right in the middle of the fight.

We Have the Victory

Of course, the victory is already ours.  When we placed our faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we were granted salvation from death and rewarded with the gift of eternal life.  Along with our salvation, we have been empowered by our connection to God through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  We read this in the book of Romans:  Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)  Together with God, we have the power to overcome the enemy and accomplish all that God has designed our lives to achieve.

Serve God by Serving Others

The enemy wants us to dwell on what we have or don’t have here in this world.  God tells us to let go of the worldly race to riches and focus our lives on serving others.  When we seek the will of God in our lives, we will be blessed with rewards that will outlast everything thing this world has to offer.   We find these words of encouragement in the book of Colossians:  Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth.  (Colossians 3:2)  When we plan our day around God’s path, all of our worldly desires will fall away.  When we walk with the Lord it will be impossible to make a wrong turn.

Seek God

God is not hard to find.  He’s right there with you at this very moment.  Don’t let the distractions of the enemy block your connection to God.  If needed, find a quiet place to be alone with God.  Seek his counsel in prayer.  Seek his wisdom in your everyday life by following the path he places before you.  Whenever you come to a crossroad always turn in the direction of God.  You will know in your heart which way is God’s way, when you listen carefully to the Holy Spirit guiding you from within.  When you are walking carefully in the footsteps of Jesus, the will of God will be clearly evident every step of the way.  Keep your eyes on God and everything you need to accomplish His mission for your life will be made available.  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

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Giving for God