Learning to Walk in God’s Will For Your Life! Part Two

Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt

In Part One of this two-part devotional, we began talking about how God wants us to grow and mature so we can be an ever-growing blessing and influence to the body of Christ. For some people, that seems so far from a possibility. The thoughts come, how could God use me? What do I know? What can I do? How can I be an influence for Christ? Those are all good questions, not bad. And they are to help motivate us to want to know more about God’s plan for our life here on earth. Jesus once told His disciples, “The harvest is ripe.” What He meant through these words is this: We are and will always be surrounded by people who don’t know if God exists but want to know.

We will always be surrounded by people who are hurting and God has the answers to their questions and solutions to their problems. But they don’t know Him or how to find Him or communicate with Him. And for that reason, the scripture is written, Romans 10:14 (NLT) “But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” And for that reason, I am writing this two-part devotional telling you that God wants to use you! (God back and read Part One if you haven’t!) God wants to use us not because we deserve it or because we’ve earned it. It’s because He is allowing us to out of love. Jesus paved that way for us. The Apostle Paul begs us to understand our calling and the necessity to walk in it saying, “Therefore I… beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Ephesians 4:1 (NLT)

So, where is the best place to learn and grow and mature in Christ? The answer is: in a good Bible-teaching church. Jesus says that He laid down His life for the church (which is all people who are saved.) He laid down His life for you and me at the cross. That’s how much He loves the church. The local church is His idea! And He calls it His bride! But the church is like a hospital saved with imperfect sinners trying to grow and mature in Christ. So, there is no perfect church. And even though that is true, the perfect place to grow in Christ is under a Pastor and a good Bible-teaching church where you will be taught to use your gifting to serve God’s people. This will be one of the primary places you hear from God and the place where you learn to love and serve God’s people. As you do this, you grow in maturity and spiritual growth. And this is God’s will for your life. Just as God desires an infant to grow up in a loving home with a father and mother, God desires you to grow up in a loving church. And then through the following verses, God reveals that He has gifted you in some way to be a blessing to others. He wants you to learn and experience that first in the church and then bring it to your world.

Romans 12:6-8 (NLT) says, “In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. “

We all have gifting that fits in the words of Romans chapter 12. This is where God wants us to learn and practice love, forgiveness, and serving one another. It’s where our greatest gifting will come to light! And in doing so, it spiritually prepares you for the world around you. Yes, this might take years but it flows into a lifetime of being used by God. And so, live this way with the purpose of growing and maturing and becoming a blessing. It is in this place that you will experience God’s greatest spiritual growth, His will for your life, and His endless blessings manifesting in your life.

Luke 6:38 (TLB) “For if you give, you will get! Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use to give—large or small—will be used to measure what is given back to you.”

In His love,
Pastor Tim Burt

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