“God has a plan for your life.”
Do you understand that this statement is biblically sound and thus true? This common Christian refrain has developed a bad name today though. This could be due in part to the backlash against a ministry leader and his Purpose Driven Empire. Regardless of how we might perceive that enterprise, it is important for us to consider this truth in light of what the Bible has to say.
A well-known passage of Scripture that points to this truth is Romans 8:28 where the Apostle Paul says, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
Paul’s understanding of God having a purpose for every believer was based on his own calling. We read what the resurrected Christ said to Paul in Acts 26:15-18. Note what Jesus says in verse 16: “But arise and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minster and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you.”
Perhaps the clearest statement of God having a life purpose for every believer is found in Ephesians 2:8-10 where we read: “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
So how should we approach this truth that God has not only called us into a saving relationship with Himself, but that He has also determined that we should have a distinct and special ministry for Him?
Here are a couple of points to consider. First, we should not look to connect our calling and gifting to our ministry in the short-term but should instead take a long-term view. Don’t assume friends that God will make it crystal clear to you what your calling is and its connection to your gifting. The truth is that it often takes years to understand what God has gifted you to do. When I first started teaching a Sunday School class as a new believer, I swore I had discovered the cure for insomnia – my teaching! Press on in what God enables you to do through the opportunities He provides.
Secondly, remember that God has gifted everyone to fulfill His calling. This means you do not have to trust in your resources, talent, or ingenuity alone. God is certainly able to use your personality but consider the fact that He will likely “knock off the rough edges” of your personality to make you more useful for His work of ministry to those you serve.
Finally, your God-given, God-designed purpose is most often formed in the crucible of conflict and trials. In all three passages cited earlier, one underlying principle is evident – God’s calling and gifting comes so that you may be a minister of His message of hope and forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ. The “all things” Paul mentions to the Roman believers include troubles. His own calling and purpose was marked by arrest and persecution.
Friends, God has a purpose for your life. He has a specific role He wants you to play in building His Kingdom. Understanding your calling and gifting, and then seeking opportunities to exercise your faith through service is a transforming truth.