Word of the Quarter
Jeremiah 29:11 is one of the most beautiful scriptures. It reads, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” The words were spoken to the prophet Jeremiah. God was letting Jeremiah and the Children of Israel know that they were in His hands...there was still hope and God’s purpose that He would see through.
Look at the story of Joseph. Joseph knew that God was with him. He just had to follow through and be obedient to God. He had to be patient, have faith, and walk through his journey even when he was sold into slavery and even when he was falsely accused and imprisoned. God used his natural gifts to create opportunities from his challenges. In the end, the situations that were meant for his harm ended up being for his good and the good of his entire family.
Look at the story of Moses. When Moses discovered who he truly was and his purpose, he walked away from a life of comfort and leisure into the unknown. He realized his purpose was greater than himself. His purpose was to lead the Children of Israel out of Egypt. He looked fear and uncertainty in the face to accomplish his destiny.
Look at Jesus’ life. He knew His purpose, and He walked into His purpose even unto death. Every lesson and miracle was a journey to the Cross. His willingness to die so that we may live through His death, burial, and resurrection is such a remarkable display of His love for us.
The common thread or theme found among the people above is that they understood their purpose was greater than themselves. God’s words to Jeremiah were not just for him. They were for the people of God. Moses’ job was to lead the people. Jesus came that we all may live.
What is your purpose? What is your unique giftedness or your part of the Body of Christ? 1 Corinthians 12 talks in length about our spiritual gifts. We all have different gifts, and all of those gifts are working for the same God and purpose. Each part is as equally important. It is very important that you see yourself as part of the body and know that your part is valuable and needed by the rest of the body. We need you!
If you are struggling to find your gift and purpose, it may be very useful to take a spiritual-gifts inventory. Turn your gifts into service for the Kingdom of God.
The words given to Jeremiah relate to us today. We need to be willing to step out of ourselves and be used by God. Amazing things happen when we find and walk in our purposes. It is important to know that things don’t just happen overnight or quickly. This can be hard in our instant gratification, credit card, and microwave society. But keep going. Regardless of our challenges, God is creating opportunities for us to walk in His purpose for our lives.
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