(This week’s devotions are based on Week 1 of the Series, “The Power of a Fresh Start!” WATCH HERE)
At times in life we experience a life event that helps us realize, “God still has a purpose for me.” These situations put life into perspective and we leave with a perspective that life is much bigger and more important than I had realized up to that point. These situations might be walking away from a severe car accident. One might have this thought when they head home from the doctor after being declared cancer free after an initial Stage 4 diagnosis.
We don’t want to have to reach a point where we need a crisis to wake us up to the fact that God has something big for us to do. He has a big, important reason for us to be here that is rooted in the big life purpose that Isaiah writes of in chapter 49:5-6:
Isaiah 49:5 And now the LORD says—
he who formed me in the womb to be his servant
to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself,
for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD and my God has been my strength—
6 he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant
to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”
If the LORD was going to send his only Son to this earth, he was not going to do it just for one group of people. He was going to do it for the world. It was too small of a thing just to restore the people of Israel. Rather his mission was much bigger…to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.
The result? You and I are recipients of the “big work” that Jesus did and enjoy the reality and promise of salvation today.
It’s this big work that is at the heart of us having big work to do.
In no way am I imply that we are a second Jesus. Rather, we were born into Christ to carry the message of the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
Yet, all too often we settle for small things. We settle for things that really aren’t significant in the grand scheme of things. How would Isaiah 49:6 sound if written about you?
It is too small of a thing for you to just pastor a small church, I will also make you an impact for others outside of your community.
It is too small of a thing just to be a leader in your company, I will also make you an influence for Christ among all those you lead.
It is too small of a thing to “just be a mom/dad,” I will also make you a catalyst for the faith of your children and grandchildren.
It is too small of a thing for you just to serve in the military, I will also make you a voice of truth and grace among your whole company.
It is too small of a thing…(you fill in the blank), I will also make you (you fill in the blank.)
God has formed you in your mothers womb to be alive today. He has put his name on you in the waters of baptism to be his servant. He now has a mission that goes beyond the temporal and bridges to the eternal. It’s too small of a thing not for us to realize the big mission God has saved you to be part of!
Apply: What bigger mission of grace do you see God calling you to be part of?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your grace that sets me apart to do your big work and your power which equips me for that to which you call me. AMEN.