Title: Purpose-driven life (31) My self...
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Purpose-driven life (31) Understanding who you are
Text: Psalm 139:13/ You made my books, you organized me in my womb.
King David, who appears in today's text, originally begins as a mere shepherd of Bethlehem. He was a poor shepherd tending the sheep, but with God's special grace, he becomes the king of Judea. Up to there, he lived a tumultuous life. There were many envy, many misunderstandings, many trials, and many dangers. After going through many hardships, thanks to God's special grace, he finally became the king of Judea and sat on the throne and did great things. And as he reached his mature personality, he said these prayers: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my will. See what evil I have done and lead me in the everlasting way."
The value of a person varies depending on what desires and wishes he has. What kind of job you have - it doesn't matter. How much did you own - it doesn't matter much either. A person's humanity is evaluated according to what his wish is and what he truly desires at the center of his heart.
Sociologists say When I was very young, I only liked to eat. All you have to do is eat. There is nothing more to wish for. When they are a little older, they like toys, then they like friends, then they like the opposite sex, then they like to work, and then they enjoy a sense of accomplishment. If you are over 40, you like honor, and if you are over 60, you like to go back and eat.
Only I can fulfill the role God has planned for me. Because there is no one like me in this world. Let's look at the other three of our ways to serve God.
1. Use your powers
1) All power comes from God.
Power is a gift we are born with, and because it comes from God, it is just as important as a spiritual gift. While most people who don't volunteer say, "I don't have the skills to do those things," research shows that the average person possesses 500-700 different skills and abilities, far more than they realize. It's not that I'm not able to serve. We are a marvelous bunch of powers, and we are God's marvelous creations. For example, our brain can store 100 trillion facts, our mind can make 15,000 decisions per second for our digestive system to work, and our nose can smell more than 10,000 different smells. One of the church's responsibilities is to discover and use our abilities to serve God.
2) All power can be used for the glory of God.
God has created a part in the church where our talents can shine and influence, and it is up to us to find that part. If we have the ability to do business, we can give it to God's glory as follows:
Recognizing that the income from the business and everything come from God, we first return at least a tithe of our income to God as an act of worship. We use our business to the fullest to serve others and share our faith. Our goal is not to accumulate wealth, but to build the kingdom of God. God wants us to do what we can.
Since God never asks us to devote our lives to things we cannot do in our own strength, He always aligns our abilities with our calling. (1 Peter 4:10) As each has received a gift, serve one another as good stewards of the various graces of God.
Ex) At Saddleback Church in the United States, about 7,000 people are using their powers to serve unimaginably many things. (Looking for the cheapest church equipment, gardening, organizing files, construction, medical diagnosis, meal preparation, exercise coaching, sermon material research, sermon translation, etc.)
2. Use your personality
1) God created each individual with a unique mix of personalities and traits.
There are different types of people: introverts/extroverts, routine/variety, thinking/acting, etc. However, there is no such thing as 'good' or 'bad' in ministry, and different personalities are needed to achieve balance and taste in the church. (Psalm 139:13) Thou hast made my books; thou hast organized me in my womb.
2) When you are forced to do a ministry that does not fit your personality, you have to put a lot of effort and energy in the tension and discomfort, but you will not get the best results.
3) Therefore, when we work in harmony with the character God has given us, we will experience a sense of fulfillment, satisfaction, and fruitfulness.
3. Using experiences
1) We have come to what we are today through countless experiences in life (family, education, work, spiritual experience, ministry, suffering...). When God puts us to work, He uses all of life's experiences, especially those of the greatest pain we've ever had.
(2 Corinthians 1:4) He comforts us in all our afflictions, so that with the comfort we receive from God, we are able to comfort those in all our afflictions.
2) Therefore, we can do the most effective ministry when we honestly admit our mistakes, failures, and fears without hiding even painful experiences.
Conclusion: We can do the most effective and fulfilling ministry when we have the spiritual gifts and abilities that God has given us, and when we work in the field we desire with our hearts, reflecting our personality and experience well. I am grateful for God's sovereignty and clear thinking for giving me the unique image I am today, and let's bear more fruit through the ministry that better suits my appearance.
DAY 31/ About the purpose of my life
Points to think about: No one can be me.
Memorable Words: As each has received a gift, good stewards who have been entrusted with the various graces of God should serve one another as well (1 Peter 4:10).
Questions that leave life:
1. Where can I best use the power and personal experiences God has given me to work in the church?
2. What personality type do you have? What kind of work would best fit your personality?
?쏣xperience is not something that happens to you. What did you do with what happened to you?" - Aldos Huxley