I Corinthians 3:10,11
“According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each person must be careful how he builds on it. For no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” He is the potter, we are the clay. He has a plan of what we are to be and how our lives are to go. It’s a good plan. Better than anything we could have dreamed up. I Corinthians 2:9 says, ‘Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”’ God’s plan are so good we can’t even dream up something as good.
He is the architect and the builder. He has the ideas and how the construction is to go. Our problem is once we get a sense of what He is doing we think we know where things are going, so we run with it. Sometimes we’re right, but not always. If we go too far He may need to do some dismantling.
I thought God wanted me to be a pastor. I was an assistant for years. I spent 15 years knocking on that door. Thankfully, He never opened it. Teaching has been a good fit. I enjoy working with young people and I like to teach. I’ve been in the classroom for nearly 35 years along with another 10 teaching bible studies.
Another position has been counseling. That’s been another 14 or so years. That’s been a blessing. Paul talks about the visible gifts and the behind the scenes ones. I tend to be more comfortable behind the scenes.
How does one tap into God’s plans? We are to read the bible. Jesus talks about it in the parable of the sower. It’s alive. As it gets into our hearts and minds He gives us love and opens doors for to service.
The idea is for our gifts to match the job. While it’s not perfect, we can see patterns. We also learn we aren’t too big for any job and we serve where we can.
Being in the church is God’s idea to assist us. There is much wisdom there. God puts others in our lives to shape and mold us. Amazing. What a loving God. Almost like having paid consultants to give input.
We mesh with others as we serve. We support them and they us. It can feel like others get in our way. That’s where we die to self and bless them. This is iron sharpening iron. We all fit together into His Body, the Church.
Thank You, Lord, for all of the work You do in us. You’ve made us something we could never have come close to on our own. We are Your master pieces used for Your purposes.