Finding Your Purpose

What does it mean to be used by God? I find that so many people come to Christ and want to do great things for His Kingdom. They are told that their life has purpose and they run with that information. That’s a good thing! Unfortunately, what they think this means is that they will find popularity and fame as God gives them an amazing platform to minister from and when that doesn’t happen they become angry with the church and disappointed with the Lord. What you need to know is, there’s nothing too small or insignificant to do for His glory. Whether you are called to preach from a pulpit, feed the poor or clean a toilet, as long as you’re doing it in obedience and with a heart to serve, you’ll be blessed.

A couple of weeks ago I was in St. Louis at my son and daughter in law's church. They have been renovating an old library building into the new church facility. They, along with my husband and a hand full of volunteers, have worked tirelessly for months in laboring to tear out walls, remodel a bathroom, build new walls and a platform, paint, install lighting, flooring and sound equipment, stripe the parking lot, clean... the list goes on and on and on... and most of the volunteers are our pastors and leaders. They didn’t consider themselves too important to do the “menial” tasks of ministry. My job included scrubbing toilets and urinals that had obviously not been cleaned in a very long time. I literally had to get under the urinal and scrape dried urine from underneath. I won’t even mention what I had to scrape from under the toilets. Sounds gross huh? Why am I writing about this in a devotional? It’s because it was all done for the glory of God! I sang, praised and worshipped Him as I cleaned. I jokingly yelled out, “Toilet scrubbers for JESUS!!” Actually, all of the cleaning and labor being performed was done as an act of worship to the Lord! It has all been for His glory and we consider ourselves blessed to be used to further the gospel, no matter how that looks or feels!

Don’t wait for a spectacular ministry opportunity to open up before you’ll serve God. Find a need and fill it! There’s so many ways to serve Him simply by showing love to others.

I remember several years ago, my son, Pastor Josh, wanted to serve at the church we were a member of at the time. They couldn’t find an area in which they could use him. He was so desperate to do something In the church. He noticed that the bathroom stalls looked rough and were chipping. He got permission to remove them, take them outside and in the freezing cold... while it was snowing, he scrubbed them, sanded them down and repainted them. It was a big job, but he couldn’t have been more blessed than to honor God in this way! Even as a pastor, he’s mowed lawns, repaired homes and fed the poor. It’s about filling the needs that are set before you and never thinking you’re too important to show love and compassion to the lost and hurting.

Don’t think you have nothing to offer. There’s no task too small or insignificant. Just surrender your life to Him and look around you, He’ll show you areas where you’re most needed and can be the greatest blessing. Even if no one else notices... He will!

Matthew 6:4 (TPT) Give secretly and your Father, who sees all you do, will reward you openly.

Zechariah 4:10 (NLT) Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin...

Matthew 25:33-40 (TPT)The ‘sheep’ he will put on his right side and the ‘goats’ on his left.Then the King will turn to those on his right and say, ‘You have a special place in my Father’s heart. Come and experience the full inheritance of the kingdom realm that has been destined for you from before the foundation of the world! For when you saw me hungry, you fed me. When you found me thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I had no place to stay, you invited me in, and when I was poorly clothed, you covered me. When I was sick, you tenderly cared for me, and when I was in prison you visited me.’ “Then the godly will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty and give you food and something to drink? When did we see you with no place to stay and invite you in? When did we see you poorly clothed and cover you? When did we see you sick and tenderly care for you, or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will answer them, ‘Don’t you know? When you cared for one of the least important of these my little ones, my true brothers and sisters, you demonstrated love for me.

Matthew 10:42 (NLT) And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”