Do we just live life as it happens? Or, do we act intentionally as God would direct us to in working with Him in His kingdom? Through practicing intentional living, we can become more fruitful and productive in our lives and ministry.
We’ve been reminded of a few key passages:
“Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits… All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when.” (I Cor. 12:7)
God has gifted each of us with a special gift, natural talents, a unique personality and our own history of experiences (good and bad) that helps us to be used by Him to do what He has specially gifted us to do – for His glory.
“Now God has us where He wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all His idea, and all His work. All we do is trust Him enough to let Him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join Him in the work He does, the good work He has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.” (Eph. 2:7-10, The Message)
It’s not about our talents or our own “doing”… it’s all about God. He created us, He saved us, and He has asked us to join Him in the work He’s doing.
After enough years putting off, rationalizing our choices, dragging our feet, and giving excuses, we are now willing to intentionally use all the gifts, talents, strengths, and experiences together to do what God is calling us to do – “the good work He has gotten ready for us to do” – in Lyon, France. We are in awe of how He is using our failures as well as our successes in what He is calling us to do in France. How good is God???
“His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out. This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.” (II Cor. 9:8-9, The Message)
God is extravagant… generous… and requires the same of each of us! Are we being intentional with each day God has given us?
A great reminder that He is the potter and we are the clay! So easy to think its the other way around... thank you for your shared insights. We are going through a similar process so can relate.
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