One of my all time favorite people in the Bible is Paul,
my obsession with his story is kind of…. Well, creepy. Paul’s story shows how
God can take the least of these and use their circumstances for His glory. God takes
the most broken people and makes their stories beautiful; all it takes is your
willingness. Basically long story, super short, Paul was Saul and Saul was a
Pharisee. (Pharisee’s are people who persecuted/killed Christians) He was a man
who passionately persecuted Christians. In Acts 9 you can read his story more
in depth but really it talks about how God got Saul’s attention. “As he neared
Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He
fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you
persecute me?’ ‘Who are you, Lord?’ Saul asked.
‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. ‘Now get up and go
into the city, and you will be told what you must do.’” Saul changed his name
to Paul to basically show his transformation and love for the Lord. After
Saul’s conversion into Paul he had an intense willingness to go and serve the
Lord, he became a man of action and devotion. Paul basically wrote like half of
the Bible, isn’t that sweet?! Just like Paul’s willingness to serve God, God
wants to utilize who you are in life. God needs your personality, He needs who
you are and He needs your passions. He needs you because he has a specific plan
and a specific purpose for your life. One of my favorite Christine Caine quotes
is, “Nothing about my birth - or yours - was random or accidental. I was
born for this time - and so were you. We were each chosen for a particular,
cosmically important task that can be done by no one else.”
Why am I
telling you this? Paul was so passionate about the Lord and spreading the
Gospel. SO much so that Paul went on three missionary journeys…3! This is when
they couldn’t just hop on a plane and be there in a few hours; his journeys
were literally on foot. Paul dedicated his life to the Lord and even when he
was in jail he trusted so deeply that God would use it for His glory. Paul’s
story is something that I have recently learned to I cling to tightly. With
going into my spring semester of my senior year in college, it can be so
intimidating. Not knowing the future, but luckily, knowing who holds my future.
Do I go to seminary? Do I go to YWAM? Do I go into the work force? Questions
that if you think about them for too long they can get you so anxious. Now
realizing and knowing that above all else I need to finish this race strong and
be intentionally present. Just like Bob Goff says, “You don't need a
plan; you just need to be present.” Do not stress about the future, instead
embrace every moment and do not take it for granted. My favorite verse my parents
engraved in my brain when I was little is Colossians 3:23. ‘Whatever you do
work at it with ALL YOUR HEART as if working for the Lord and NOT for man.” This
semester I am learning to work for God and to be more intentional in all I do.
More intentional in my prayer life, more intentional in friendships, more
intentional in youth group, more intentional in schoolwork, and especially
being more intentional in my jobs.
I
have learned that God has put us in our present circumstances because He needs
us there and whether or not we like it or feel confident there it’s because He
wants to use us where we are. Shelley Giglio says that, “God has put you there.
Be confident and be humble.” Paul says in Ephesians 2:10 that, “We are God’s
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in
advance for us to do.” We were created by Christ, set apart and equipped. Francis
Chan also says, “But God doesn't call us to be comfortable. He calls us to
trust Him so completely that we are unafraid to put ourselves in situations
where we will be in trouble if He doesn't come through.” We were created for a
specific purpose and plan and often times I think that is something that is so
easy to push aside and forget. Do not let your past circumstances determine
your future circumstances. You have the opportunity to change your future,
positively. Look at the people God uses in the Bible, each of them were inadequate
for the job they were set out for, but God equipped, encouraged and used them. Whether
or not God calls you to Arvada, Colorado or Alwar, Rajasthan or wherever… be
confident and be humble knowing that He will use you if you are willing and if
you are obedient. Keep your head up, keep fighting your fight, be confident and
have courage. Complete your race well, allow others in so they can see the life
altering work the Lord does and most importantly do not lose hope. I don’t know
about you, but when I am done fighting this good fight I want to hear, “Well
done my good and faithful servant.” All it takes is a little willingness and a
little passion like Paul’s.
Acts 20:24: However, I consider
my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the
task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of
God’s grace.
2 Timothy 4:7: I have fought the
good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
