I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. Psalm 57:2
Pastor John Piper makes this point about Paul in Acts 23:12-22, that unbeknownst to the more than forty men who plotted to murder him, Paul was “immortal”—literally un-killable—until he fulfilled God’s purpose for him, which, as the Lord had just revealed to Paul in v. 11, included testifying about Jesus in Rome.
And so it is with David in Psalm 57:2. God has a purpose to fulfill through him, and until he fulfills it, David is also invincible. God won’t let anyone or anything stop him from carrying out this purpose.
And so it is with us who are in Christ. O God, let me live every day with purpose. I am not here by accident. You have given me the gift of every moment to glorify you (1 Corinthians 10:31). You’ve given me gifts to be used in ministry. Suppose that every day I resolved to live with purpose, with urgency, knowing that you have given me each day for a reason?
Of course, the moment I resolved to live this way, I would be tempted by the Law: “How are you doing at it? Where is your fruit? Are you making progress? What do you have to show for yourself?” But those questions are irrelevant. I need to follow Paul’s example: “I do not even judge myself” (1 Corinthians 4:3b). We simply don’t have a frame of reference to know the extent to which we’re making a difference for eternity. Only God can judge.
Dear Lord, I don’t know whether you’ve given me five talents, two talents, or one talent (Matthew 25:15). Maybe you’ve given me a small fraction of one talent! But whatever I have, please let me return a profit—whatever profit you see fit.
Very good point. Though we don’t know the day nor the hour of not only when Christ comes again, but also when he is coming to take us in particular home, we can rest assured that “our times are in his hands.”
I especially like two of your other points as well. “We simply don’t have a frame of reference to know the extent to which we’re making a difference for eternity.” That’s very reassuring, since I see very little impact on other people from the efforts I have made to date. “Only God can judge.”
Also: “But whatever I have, please let me return a profit.” That is my goal and hope, to have responded in such a way that God will say, as he did in this parable, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
Your words resonate with me! Yet I also see how easy the devil can quench the Spirit in me. I feel a strong sense of urgency about evangelism, for instance, and then I settle back into my comfortable routine—especially when I perceive that “things are going well.” How do I keep the fire burning?
Unfortunately I am not likely the one to ask about evangelism! I’m with you that I think it important, but I don’t find that I do very much of it. However, I have had opportunity to share a couple of Christian books with a couple of lost lawyers up here–better than nothing, but not enough!
I hear you, Tom!