Have you noticed God uses people in different ways? Start to watch people that achieve greatness. That greatness may come in ministry, medicine, art, science, or who knows what, but there does seem to be different paths towards greatness. We can see this in different Bible characters. I’m going to look at three of these paths. I’m also going to share which one I think I am.
Abraham
Before God put that “h” of his breathe in Abraham’s name, he was an unknown. God called. Abram went. And, his destiny changed. He is a great example of faith. He’s also a picture of someone that struck out in a new direction.
Do you think he knew what was going to happen when he decided to go? I doubt it. Sometimes, someone just does something great. It didn’t make sense (at least to our logical minds) why they did what they did. But, they did it and greatness happened.
I am not Abraham. Abraham was a man of faith. While I certainly have faith in God, I don’t have the unique wiring of someone that trusts without question. I have a mind that is constantly testing, constantly questioning, and constantly wanting to know why. If I had to journey like Abraham, I would doubt. At times, I even reflect on my own perception of reality. I wouldn’t want a faith like Abraham’s. In order to have that level of faith, I don’t think I could be wired the way God has uniquely wired me. I do believe he has wired me in a special way for a special purpose. In order to have a faith like Abraham’s, that unique wiring would have to be replaced with new wiring—wiring that may be wonderful, bountiful, and beautiful, but wiring that is not me. While I have many weaknesses that I wish I didn’t have, I don’t want to be another person. I want to be the perfected version of myself, because that is my purpose. Even a perfected version of myself doesn’t have Abraham’s faith. Abraham’s faith was a perfected version of what God created him to be.
Daniel
As a teenager, Daniel became a counselor to kings. And, he stayed a counselor to kings his entire life. When he was young, God put him in his life’s purpose. God used his service within his gifting to bring maturity. Read his prophecies when he was younger and compare them to the prophecies later in his life. His later prophecies were more detailed, more revelatory, and more advanced.
Daniel stepped into his calling when he was young. And, he grew in his calling as he aged. I’m not Daniel. I still don’t think I’ve found my main purpose in life. God simply isn’t working that way in my life.
Joseph
Even as a young man, Joseph had some inkling of God’s working in his life. It’s a trait I share with Joseph. With Joseph this inkling began at the age of seventeen. It was at the same age I felt God leading me into something. But, Joseph didn’t step into his calling when he was young. Unlike Daniel, he went through a long period of preparation. That period wasn’t always easy. But, God used it to develop him.
As I look over my life, God has been preparing me for something. As to what, I only have an inkling. He hasn’t opened that door into my final calling.
I can see the Lord working. I’ve had many struggles because the Lord closed doors. For a good portion of my life, I’ve been functioning outside my gifting. Just like Joseph, at times God gave me favor and allowed me to work within my gifting. But, just like Joseph, those times of favor have been fleeting and then the next trial comes.
With Joseph, those times of favor led to him overseeing. God was allowing him in small ways to experience his final purpose. With me, those times of favor always seem to revolve around creativity and communication skills—teaching, public speaking, writing, drama, singing, videography, video editing, composing music, and digital photography. And, there has been a joy, a level of brilliance, and an anointing of doing those things communicating the Bible. The term “anointing” was a term a senior Messianic rabbi used to describe what he sees in my life.
I’ve also seen many areas where I am weak. At my home congregation, I’m constantly confronted with others that can do things I can’t (and likely won’t ever be able) to do. There’s our music leader. She’s a woman that just exudes encouragement and positivity. I can’t do that. Oh, maybe in some small ways, but she is gifted. I even see kids that can do things I can’t. One of the teens is marvelously gifted at connecting to people. He touches people in a special way—a special way that I’ll never be able to match. I think he’s around fourteen and he has a superpower I’ll never possess. Somewhat humbling, isn’t it? He’s just a kid. I’m a grown man. But, he has that something special that is beyond me.
I’m a high introvert. Even though I’m good with people, I have limits in terms of people energy. I need more quiet time and reflection than the wonderful extroverts who can consistently give love and energize others. If I had to be a Christian counsellor, I’d fold.
I’m wired like an artist. So, obviously, the creativity make sense. But, artists at times can allow their emotions to guide their thinking. At times, artists have their heads in the clouds and their plans aren’t planted on solid ground. Artists need a support structure of others to keep them grounded. As I consider who I am (and what the Lord has developed within me), I want to be honest. With the communication skills, God put extra spice in the batter. This is particularly true when communicating the Bible. I need to honestly see that, because it’s his work. But, I also have some huge limitations. Again, that is his work. He gave me extreme skills to use for him. But, he also gave me some serious limitations, because he wants me to stay humble and he wants me to function within the body.
I’m at the point where I want to function the rest of my life within my gifting. But, here’s the catch. Functioning within your gifting isn’t feasible 100% of the time. That’s not how life works. At times, I will have to deal with difficult people, difficult situations, or challenging problems. At times, I will have to function outside my gifting. Because life is messy, it’s impossible to fully function within your gifting if you don’t also possess some ability to function outside your gifting. So, God is giving me that skillset. That skillset has not come easily. It’s come through a crucible of various challenges. I can see the Lord working. I can see it was necessary. But, I haven’t always felt blessed facing the heat as the dross has melted away.
It seems the Lord is taking me down the Joseph path. Which path is he taking you down?
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