5
“Before I shaped you in the womb,
I knew all about you.
Before you saw the light of day,
I had holy plans for you:
A prophet to the nations-
that’s what I had in mind for you.” (The Message)
I used The Message paraphrase translation because that is the version I was reading when God brought me to this verse. I assure you it deviates little if any from the other, more “accepted,” translations. But even after referencing this verse in other Bibles, I love the way The Message nails home that final statement, “A prophet to the nations- that’s what I had in mind for you.”
In seeking His will and while lost in prayers basically begging Him to show me a glimpse of what His purpose is for my life, He led me to that verse. He’s gifted me with talents that have the potential of reaching people: writing, filmmaking, art, music, etc. And it was clear to me at that point. While I may not be a “prophet to nations,” He has given me gifts that can reach people…individually or en masse!
And, just like I said in my last post, He likes to bombard you! Last night I had the honor of seeing Dr. Zachary Tims speak. He delivered the message of David and Goliath like I wager to bet it has never been told. And, while we were deeply saturated in 1 Samuel, Dr. Tims jumps over to, you guessed it, Jeremiah 1:5! I could’ve fallen out in the aisle!! OK, God, you can turn off those blinding neon lights now, I see it!
Yet, I’ll be honest…I have fear and question Him. And I know I have no reason to…it’s just my nature, our nature, to see ourselves as small, singular and of little worth. God says do this, and we say, but I can’t. None of us can…without God. But we all at some point fail to realize we are no longer ourselves…we are vessels for God’s Will to be done. We carry the Holy Spirit and if God says do it, it’s already done…we’ve got to learn that the capabilities to do it are already within us and He knows that regardless if we do or not!
Dr. Tims had many great illustrations to drive that home. But my favorite was this: “All David had was a rag and a stone. You may not have a lot but work what you got!”
I have my talents and gifts that God specifically chose for me, but I have to trust Him and glorify Him in using them. Right now is a challenging time for me. Many, if not most, of my friends are atheist or agnostic. They knew me all this time to be the same as them. I now have to trust fully in Him that I will find the way to work my gifts to reach them. I could be reaching someone right now that I may never meet face-to-face, but it breaks my heart every time I feel like I fail to reach that friend I love standing right beside me. But I know that if He can reach me, when He did, then in His perfect timing He will do the same with them.
Say a little prayer for my lost friends. And pray, whole heartedly, that you will be shown your gifts and how to use them! Be “A prophet to the nations,” whatever those nations may be in your life!
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