Purpose and Promise

Posted on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 at 02:02

 Hmmmm.  I am sitting here this afternoon, and my heart is pondering many things.  As I am seeking a closer relationship with God, I am discovering so many wonderful truths.  A refreshing and revitalizing breeze is blowing, and I am basking in it's wake!  Oh, what a wonderful God we serve!

Many years ago, when I gave my heart to God, I wanted so much to just be able to "do" something....anything... to show Him how much I loved Him.  I wanted others to feel the love and security I had come to know in His loving embrace.  But, somewhere along the line, I forgot that I really wasn't the one in charge, He was.  If I wanted others to know Him, I had to learn to model myself after His word, and live a life that would show Him to all.  I have to be honest here, I was a dismal failure!  Not because I didn't try, I truly did.  I was a failure because I lost the ability to tell where I needed to let go, and let God have His way.

I had a purpose, but I had lost sight of the promise.  I had forgotten the one basic truth that changes everything.  "If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me."  I was living a "good" life, but I wasn't lifting His name, not in the way I should have been.   A little story that I read in "Joy for a Woman's Soul," written by Sheila Walsh, demonstrates it so much better than I could, so I will share it with you.

"Two young children were playing a bedtime game they called it "God is..." They took turns trying to finish the sentence with possible descriptions of God.  Finally six year old Missy said, "God smells good all the time."

"That's dumb," her older brother said.

But Missy insisted.  "Sometimes He smells like orange blossoms, and sometimes He smells like apples.  Tonight He smells like strawberries."

Maybe Missy was just enjoying the smell of the bubble bath that was barely dry on her skin.  But maybe Missy can lead us to a new appreciation of a spiritual metaphor.  In 2nd Corinthians 2:15, Paul says that we believers are the "aroma of Christ."

God wants to use you to spread the aroma of Christ.  Are you able to joy in that metaphor?  Can you inhale a little deeper, and longer, to enjoy the fragrance yourself?

Stop the rat race and enjoy the aromas in your life--the ones God gives in nature and the ones God gives through the witness of human kindness.  Stop and enjoy the sights, tastes, and smells, of God's good gifts."

Like someone else once said, "The Jesus they see, wil be the Jesus in me!"  If we are so consumed with doing "things," that we think are right, what room do we leave for Him to show us what really needs doing.? I truly believe it is not the person who is in the limelight that changes the world.  It is the mother, who in her darkest moments cries out for guidance.  It is the daughter or son, who sees their friend headed down the worng path, that prays.  It is the father, who knows not what he should do, but rather, goes to God in supplication, and waits for answers.  It is the tiny tot who gives thanks for the morning meal, and prays soflty, "Please bless my mommy and daddy."

My purpose is to bring honor and glory to His name.  My promise is that if I do this, even in the quietest of ways, He will draw all men unto Him.  Isn't that what we should want for all of our brothers and sisters?

The Jesus they see will be the Jesus in me. 

Lord, please give me the strength and the wisdom to model myself after you.  Allow my purpose to be clear, and my path to be straight and true.  Remind me of Your promises when I fail, and lift me up, so that I might be a true witness of your loving kindeness and mercy.  Make my life a sweet aroma, so that I might be an example to those who know me.  In Jesus name, Amen

So True for us all

Posted by fcusick on Thursday, February 7, 2008 at 03:03 - Link

Thank you for sharing. I know we all stuggle to be all that God wants us to be. Sometimes to be is what he wants us to do.

Blessings,
Flossie