I began this morning, reading from Isaiah. I am getting distracted and I hear words not in the chapter I am reading. When this happens to me, I usually just stop, pray TO Him, asking that he clear my head, provide me the focus I need to ensure I am receiving whatever He is going to give me today. But what I got FROM him was an answer to questions I hadn’t asked. Why me, why this project, why now?
The words I heard were “You aren’t going to save the Kingdom or anyone in it.”
I asked for more. What do I do with this. I am following something you put on my heart to do. I’m abiding in what I think you are leading me to do. How do I use this for your glory? The words kept me thinking. I can’t save anyone, only He can. I know that already. I can only serve. Next came this sentence — Ours is not to save the Kingdom, but to serve it. This isn’t the way I normally speak. I must have read that somewhere. Sounds like John F. Kennedy to me! “Ask not what your country can do for you...” But it wouldn’t go away. So I prayed for discernment. I felt and heard nothing. I googled it. Nothing close. Maybe this is His way of giving me direction for this project. Something about what this should be.
I have briefly mentioned this project to family members and close friends. Most of them have been like ho hum, ok, so what? The only feedback I have received is how are you going to be able to acquire facilitators to start these groups and ensure they have the tools to make this beneficial to the participants. I have had several ideas on how this could work, but these questions have now sown doubt. This entire project began with him putting this on my heart 3 days ago! I had already come to terms with the obvious questions, how much time, how much cost, available technology, etc. But now the personal experience questions. I can create the method for people to engage, the environment to make them safe, and the capability to allow person to person contact. But how do we get them started. How do we get them invested in a relationship with Christ? We don’t. We make suggestions, answer questions, provide guidance. In short, He saves, we serve. Nothing more. Ours is not to save the Kingdom, but to serve it.
In the months that God has spent transforming me, He has consistently pushed me in a direction of service. At first I had this desire to stand on a mountaintop or a street corner and shout out to everyone, about the newest version of me that He was transforming. Let everyone understand why Jesus came, in His own words. John 10:10 - NIV - “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” I quickly realized that this wasn’t His plan. It was my plan. Proverbs 19:21 - “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.”
So what did he have in store for me? What should I do with all of this exuberance for the Lord?
Let’s grab a coffee. The Shepherd is speaking.