Fatalism, Determinism or Uniqueness, God's Plan for my Life (Daily Reflections on Prov. 20:24)

I do not consider myself a Calvinist nor an Armenian theologically. But when one reads passages like Proverbs 20:24, "The Lord has determined our path; how then can anyone understand the direction his own life is taking?," it raises questions regarding fatalism, determinism and free will. What is Solomon saying here? That I don't have any choice? That my life is laid out for me? That everything in my life happens because God has already determined or ordained it? And how far does that go? Does that mean that God determines whether or not I get get cancer? Does He determine what job I'm going get or who I'm going to marry? Does that extend to what I eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner? How much I drink? When I go to bed at night? Has God determined absolutely everything for me? Logical questions which raise even more questions. 

However, I think the bigger question has to do with the impact of your life. Have you ever noticed that everyone is different? I know that's a dumb question. Of course we know that everyone is different. Even identical twins are different. Just like every snowflake is unique, so are we. That's God's designed. God crafts each of us with our unique blend of gifts and talents and passions and skills and bents. And with all our uniqueness comes a unique purpose for our life. God's plan for me is totally different than God's plan for you. The people you impact, influence and do life with are different from the ones I impact, influence and do life with.

Notice our paths take us different places. That too is God designed. Our gift mix, personality, passion, experiences are all used by God, when we surrender it to Him, to accomplish His purpose and plan for us. Surrendering it to Him, that's the rub. God has a unique plan for each of our lives. We will only be able to fulfill God's plan for our lives when we are open to His leading and live each day for Him.

The problem is that many of us, okay most of us seek to live our lives for ourselves. We try to make a life for ourselves. We map out plans to take us to where we think we want to go. We read self help books, listen to inspirational or motivational speakers, push ourselves all in an attempt to get something we think we want. I heard one speaker say, "What if we spend all our energy, time and effort climbing the ladder of success only to get to the top of the ladder and find that it's leaning against the wrong wall?" 

I'm not saying that we should never plan or set goals or work hard to achieve success in our field. But, if we are honest with ourselves, this kind of pursuit of life is really all about us. What do I want for myself? It really gives little thought to the eventual impact of our life. It definitely avoids the questions, "Why am I here?" I really don't believe that God put us on this earth just to take up space, breath, use up some of the earth's resources and die. I believe that God has a specific plan for all us.

When Solomon writes these words, he indicates the uniqueness of every one of us. Instead of asking ourselves, "What do I want to accomplish in my life?" We should be asking "What does God want to accomplish through my life?" We don't have the vision to be able to see how our life will impact others not only in our lifetime but in the future. A life we impact today may influence someone else who in the future may impact thousands. We can't see that. We can't even see how our life affects those around us really. Our shortsightedness keeps us from understanding how God could use and is using us.

I struggle all the time with trying to figure out how my life is making a difference to anyone. I don't have visions (or delusions) of grandeur. I know that I'm not a rockstar pastor. But I do want my life to count to the people around me. I do want to impact them, to influence them for Christ. However, I can't even see if I'm really doing that. I really don't understand how God is using me.

And that's Solomon's point. God determines our path. He knows how he wants to use us. We haven't got a clue, really, what the total impact our life is having on others. So instead of killing ourselves trying to accomplish our dreams, why not live to allow God to accomplish His purpose for us. What does that look like? I don't know for you, but I do know that it involves people no matter what profession you hold, gifts you have, place you live, or education you have. When I release myself into the hands of God and let Him use my life fully, every day, then I don't have to worry about climbing a ladder to success or accumulating lots of wealth or being tops in my field. All I have to worry about is focusing on the people God brings around me to serve and care for. If we make serving Him our priority and giving Him our best at work, with friends, with neighbors, with family, in our community, then I believe that God will place us in positions that we can best be used by Him.

I think one the joys of Heaven will be that we get to see how God's plan was worked out through the influence of our lives. People we never met on this planet will be giving testimony of how our lives ultimately influenced them, especially in their relationship with God. I know of an older lady that taught a high school Sunday School class for years in a small town in North East Oklahoma. She loved her kids, had them to her house, always had cookies for them, listened to them, shared her faith with them and encouraged them in their walk with Christ. When they went off to college she would mail them cookies and send them notes. Through her service as the High School Sunday School teacher, she saw over thirty-five of her students become full time ministers and missionaries. Through her influence thousands of people have come to Christ all over the world. 

God, help me to focus on the people in my life today; of being a witness, an encouragement to the people in my life today. God, I want to live for you today. Sometimes chasing after big dreams or future aspirations wear me out and frustrate me and just bring me stress. I want you to handle the big picture, Lord. I know that my measly plans are nothing compared to what you envision. I just want to be used by you, however you want to use me.

Daily Reflections on Lk. 13:18-21 (Leavening Our Communities)

My mother used to bake bread. She mixed everything from scratch. In would go the flour and eggs and salt, etc. But the most important ingredient to give the bread it's texture was yeast. Once the yeast was mixed in, it was time for the magic to begin. She would place the bowl of dough on a register and cover it with a dish towel. As the heat from the register activated the yeast, the dough would begin to rise, filling and sometimes overflowing the bowl. Magic.

I always wondered how such a small amount of yeast could make the dough rise so much. To be honest, it amazes me to this day. Yeast is a powerful agent. It doesn't just effect the small area immediately around it. It effects the whole batch.

However, if it's not activated or if it's bad, it does nothing. It just sits there among the rest of the ingredients and does nothing. Yeast is catalyst. Its purpose goes unfulfilled if never worked into the dough and activated.

Jesus said here in Luke 13 that Kingdom of God is like yeast that is worked into flour. Once it is worked in, the leavening process begins. It permeates all of society. Jesus used other analogies like the mustard seed that is planted and grows to be a tree in which the birds rest and nest. He talks about Kingdom being salt and light. The Kingdom is intended to be a positive influence in our neighborhoods and communities and countries and world.

But, in order for it to work as intended, it has to added and activated, planted and nurtured, lit and uncovered. God never intend for the yeast of the Kingdom of God to remain in its package. It is to be opened and mixed into the world. It was never intended to become like the world, but to influence the world.

Unfortunately, many believe serving God simply involves going to church, passing the plate, working in the kids department, singing in the choir or worship team, etc. Although those jobs, are helpful and necessary, they do little to influence our neighborhoods or communities.

To influence the part of world in which we live, we must get involved in the world around us. Faith was not intended to remain enclosed behind church doors. The Kingdom of was intended to be a blessing to the world. If never unleashed and mixed, it has no effect.

God, I want to have a leavening affect on my neighborhood. I want our church to leaven our community. Mix us into the flour of the this world.

Daily Reflections on Obadiah 1:1-4, 15-18 (Political Confusion and Every Day Life)

At an interview for the pastorate at a church I once served I was asked an unusual question. It was one that I'd never been asked before. I was asked who I voted for in the last election. I'd been asked a lot of seemingly out of nowhere types of questions in these type of interviews before, but nothing like that. I realized that I was dealing with a group of politically conscious Christians.

Interestingly enough, many of the high profile members of that church were active in local politics within the both the city and county. In fact we had the mayor, the presiding county commissioner, another county commissioner, several school board members, a county roads commission board member, library board member, parks and recreation board member, various community action groups, and more. We had people in the police dept., the sheriff's dept., community feasibility study groups, etc. It was quite an active group.

We also had a lot of people into the national political scene in those days. Rush Limbaugh was extremely popular. Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority was big. Many were avid listeners of James Dobson and his political opinions and efforts. We even had people line the streets with abortion protest signs.

My concern was that as a congregation we were more concerned about political issues than we were about people issues. I often told them in those early years of my ministry there that the most politically active thing they could do was to lead someone to Jesus Christ. If they really wanted to change the world or our country or even our community, lead their friends, neighbors, political opponents to Christ. It's the most effective way to change a person's value system. When they are changed by Christ, life takes on a new perspective.

As we made the switch from fighting politics to ministering to people in real need, our church began to grow. We still had plenty of people involved in politics, but our energies as church begin to shift to making a difference through ministering and trusting God, not our government.

When I left the congregation, our influence in the community had actually increased. Whenever there was a need or issue in our community, they looked to our church for leadership, ideas and answers. We hosted health fairs, business expo's, business leadership meetings, art fairs, school events, club gatherings, kids athletics sign ups, conventions, conferences. And when the community faced a tragedy whether 9/11 or the death of significant person or teen in our community, they gathered at our facility.

Governments and governmental programs all have their place in society. They are God ordained. But trusting in and investing all our time in them causes us to lose sight of God, His truths, His standards, His ability, His calling. We get off base when we think our political ideology is the answer. Sorry to break it to you, but it's not. God is the answer and the truths found in His Word.

God, forgive my arrogance. I never want to lose sight of my calling as a believer in Jesus. Help me make a difference in the lives around me. Help me to see your bigger picture. Help me to remember that you're the one sets up and takes down governments. Help realize you're always in control.