FINDING YOUR PLACE

Now all of you together are Christ’s body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it. Here is a list of some of the members that God has placed in the body of Christ: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who can get others to work together, those who speak in unknown languages.
 
1st Corinthians 12:27-28
 
Growing up, often a major challenge is finding out and figuring out where and how to fit in. The desire to be a part of the ‘in crowd’ is strong and can lead to behavior which feels wrong, looks wrong, has bad consequences, is just plain wrong.
 
That same challenge exists as we grow in our spiritual walk with the LORD. We want to know where we fit in the Body of Christ. In looking for our place we ask questions like, “LORD, what do you want me to do?” or “How can I serve You?”
 
In finding your place, one thing you can do is look at the list the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church. Which of these fits with your natural skills and abilities? What do you like and do well? Focus on that and see how you might use those gifts to serve God.

STEPPING OUT IN FAITH

The LORD told Joshua, “Today I will begin to make you great in the eyes of all the Israelites. Now they will know that I am with you, just as I was with Moses. Give these instructions to the priests who are carrying the Ark of the Covenant: ‘When you reach the banks of the Jordan River, take a few steps into the river and stop.’”
 
Joshua 3:7-8
 
In faith walking, the first steps are the most difficult. Imagine stepping into a fast flowing river during the season when the waters are high, when the banks are overflowing. God’s instructions were only “…take a few steps…” After the priests had taken those firsts steps of faith, God stepped in and did the rest. The waters were again parted, just as they had been for Moses, and Israel was able to cross the Jordan on dry ground.
 
Is God calling you to the edge of the Jordan River and instructing you to show a little faith in Him? A family decision … new career … a mission opportunity … a new relationship … an investment … a church home … a service commitment. Whatever your Jordan River, God is there to step in and part the waters. When you respond to His call, you can have faith that He will provide the dry ground. Go ahead, step out in faith, “…take a few steps…” and see God’s handiwork.

BE READY

“Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left. So be prepared, because you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. “Know this: A homeowner who knew exactly when a burglar was coming would stay alert and not permit the house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time. For the Son of Man will come when least expected.
 
Matthew 24:40-44
 
Today’s scripture describes what will happen in the last days, when Jesus returns. In Matthew 24, Jesus was speaking to His disciples on the Mount of Olives prior to His crucifixion. They didn’t understand all He told them then, and even today, we don’t know exactly how things will roll out in the last days. These things have been argued throughout the history of the church. Surprise … Surprise! Jesus says right here, “…you don’t know…”
 
What we can know is what Jesus said we can know.
 
“Know this: … be ready all the time … the Son of Man will come…”
 
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you honestly answer this question. If Jesus came back today, are you ready? The time to be ready is right now “because you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.”

WRONG CONCLUSION

“What things?” Jesus asked. “The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did wonderful miracles. He was a mighty teacher, highly regarded by both God and all the people. But our leading priests and other religious leaders arrested him and handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. We had thought he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. That all happened three days ago. Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, Jesus’ body was gone, just as the women had said.”
 
Luke 24:19-24
 
Instead of watching all the Super Bowl pre-game shows this past Sunday, I re-watched the Will Smith movie “Independence Day” for the ‘um-teenth’ time. Do you remember the scene near the end, they have flown the crashed spacecraft back to the mothership, uploaded the computer virus, are ready to blow up the mothership with the nuclear bomb set with the 30-second delay? The only problem is their escape craft is being held by the mothership and they can’t get away. Will pulls out his victory cigar and lights it, figuring that they will blow up the mothership but will not escape to tell about it. Wrong conclusion! As soon as they deploy the bomb, their spacecraft is shaken loose. They are free to escape before the bomb explodes. Will cries out, “It ain’t over ‘til the fat lady sings.”
 
For the disciples, they came to a wrong conclusion. The life story of Jesus did not end at the crucifixion. He is Messiah and He did rescue Israel and all mankind from the bondage of sin. He did rise from the dead with all power over Satan in His hands.
 
“It still ain’t over …” Jesus is coming back again. Don’t let the problems and circumstances of your today lead you to a wrong conclusion. Jesus is Messiah and He has set you free!