Growing Where We Are Planted

"...Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow;" Matthew 6:28

This passage in Matthew is talking about trusting God in all things. Yet, today reading My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers something popped out at me. Chambers says, about the lilies, "They grow where they are planted. Many of us refuse to grow where God plants us." He later ties it to the question: "Am I (or are we) continually separating myself and looking to God every day of my life?" For some reason reading that was a completely new thought or analogy or way of thinking about it. We are just like those lilies. God has planted things exactly where He wants them. When He created the garden of Eden He didn't have Adam plant things, He planted them. Adam didn't have to plant or toil or labor until after sin came into the world. That is a completely different topic for a different post. :)

God has planted the lilies of the valley exactly where He wants them. So what makes us think any different about ourselves? God has placed us in a prime location. You or I may not think of it as anything because it may be some place you have been in one place for so long. Or maybe even you are in a new place and know next to no one. God has you right where He wants you. This is not to say you are never ever to move from the location you are in. No ma'am! I would never tell you that. God gives leading to people to stay or go. So if God has you where He wants you geographically (hehe) what is the task at hand? Well, at this point if you know me or if you read my other posts you know what is coming. We have been given a very divine task. It is the task of sharing. We are not to share just anything, but the very thing that could save people's lives. Let me put it in simple terms and then we will go from there.

Think about children playing in a play room or on a playground together. As children we are naturally selfish, this is because we were born into sin (once again...different topic for a different post). Children do not often willingly share their toys at first. They have to be taught how to share. They have to be taught how to even have the simple desire to share. So it doesn't come naturally for us to desire to share. We do not desire to share anything: toys, money, cars, space, ... the gospel. If a child of man has to be taught how to share then what is different for the children of God? Absolutely nothing (well within the aspects of teaching, ha!). He has to mold us and shape us and teach us how to share and how to even have a desire to do so. He wants us to make the most of our time in the field He has planted us in.

The neat thing about flowers is they cross pollenate AND they can be uprooted and moved and still flourish in the new location. Although God may have planted you in a po-dunk town in the middle of no where or even in a huge metropolis ... He has you there for a reason. Look around and see how many people are without Him. See the effects of sin on the world. The effects are all around us. Most diseases seem to have stemmed from sinful behavior. Prisons had to be opened because of this. The list could go on forever, and I will spare you. Just know that there is a purpose for you working the seemingly dead end job or going to school for what seems like no reason at all. He has a reason for you being single, married, or widowed. He has you right where He wants you. Let Him do a work in you as you seek Him out to become more like Him.

Live your life radically for Him. I dare you.

I Am Who God Says I Am

Often times we forget who God says we are, this is such a good reminder that we are not only His but we are forever His.

Here is a sweet article about who He says we are if we are in Him. Also, here is the weblink if you would like to find more helpful articles from this author:

I am a child of God John 1: 12
I am a joint-heir with Christ Romans 8: 17
I am the righteousness of God in Christ. 2 Cor.5: 21
I am the temple of the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor. 6: 19
I am the apple of His eye. Zec.2: 8
I am an ambassador for Christ. 2 Cor.5: 20
I am free from condemnation Romans 8: 1
I am more than a conqueror Romans 8: 17
I am the salt of the earth. Mathew 5: 13
I am the light of the world Mathew 5: 14 & Eph. 5: 8
I am a member of the household of faith Gal.6 :10
I am a branch of the True Vine John 15: 5
I am the will of God James 1: 8
I am in the palm of the Lord’s Hand Isa. 49: 16
I am covered by the shadow of His Hand Isa. 51: 6
I am loved by God as much as He loves Jesus John 17:23
I am in God’s Hand and none can pluck me out John10:28
I am delivered from sin Romans 6: 7
I am free from weaknesses and diseases. Matt.8: 17
I am complete in Him. Col.2: 10
I am translated into the kingdom of God’s Son.Col.1:13 I am delivered from the power of darkness Col. 1: 13
I am accepted in Him Eph. 1: 6
I am dead to sin and alive to God in Christ.Rom.6:11
I am seated in heavenly places in Christ. Eph. 2: 6
I am redeemed from the curse of the law. Gal. 3: 13
I am in Christ. 1 Cor. 1: 30
I am hidden with Christ in God. Col. 3: 3

This revelation of God concerning me is found in His Holy Word. Sense knowledge (the knowledge gained through seeing, hearing, smelling, touching and tasting) and my varying circumstances may not reveal the same and in reality contradict this revelation, but when I stand on the naked Word of God alone, God confirms His Word.

I am the daughter of the Almighty God through Jesus Christ, His Son. Chosen before the foundation of the world to be His witness in this world and to do His will for His glory. My Heavenly Father promised to lead, guide and provide all the days of my life.

I am the Lord’s ambassador in this world. God by His Spirit indwells me and now I am His Temple. My relationship with the Lord is real and it is a privilege to know Him, love Him and serve Him!! Praise His wonderful Name!

Heaven's Free Pass and Mixed Up Theology

Many professing Christians have come to the conclusion that if certain people around the world don't have the opportunity to hear about Jesus, then this automatically excuses them from God's condemnation. Such people will go to heaven because, after all, they never had the opportunity to hear about Jesus.
- Radical by David Platt

Before you start jumping to conclusions like I did, please keep on reading. Reading through this book has made me rethink some things. One of which is mentioned in the quote above. Most of us as professing Christians live our lives as if those who never hear about Christ get a free pass to heaven. Ok, so you may be thinking I am crazy for saying that, but think about how you live your life. Living as a professing Christian is not just piece of our lives, it IS our lives. We are to "cease the day" so to speak. Christ has called us to know Him and make Him known. So the two key elements to following Him involve Him. If you have a job, attend a school, go to the grocery store, rent movies, go to the library, go out to eat, or anything else you are going to realize you are around people. Not just that, most of your life is spent around other people. God has given you the job you have. He has given you the health you have to go to the grocery store. He has given you the money you have to go out and eat. He has given you everything you have. When you go to work, you are around people. Do you know if the people you work with know Christ? Say you know that some of them do know Christ, what about the others? Are you using the job you have to bring glory to God? Are you using it to make Him known to others? These questions can be applied to anything and anywhere you go.

God has given me a unique opportunity to work around a few godly students (and non-students). He has also given me a unique opportunity to work around over 1,000 students from over 70 countries. Do you want to know how many of those students know Christ as their personal savior? My best guess is less than 5% percent of them. Want to know how many of them have heard Christ's name in an evangelical conversation? Probably close to 150 of them. Yes, about 10% or a little higher students have heard the gospel because of the different ministries and other professing Christians on the campus. This is very exciting. But it makes me very sad for the other 950+ students, and counting. Going back to the quote above. If we were to just go about our lives, as we often do, and ignore the other people around us we are not really making use of the space or the "sphere of influence" God has given us. We pretty much tend to live as if people who never hear about Christ get a free pass to heaven. What kind of mixed up theology is that?! We are watching people send themselves to hell because we do not realize how urgent the matter really is. If we truly understood the urgency of salvation we would not just let those we encounter escape our sight without sharing the gospel with them, or however much of the gospel they allow us to share.

Imagine encountering an international student newly arrived on a college campus in the U.S. You ask her if she has ever hear of Jesus, and with a puzzled look on her face, she responds, "No." Now, if this girl is headed to heaven precisely because she has never heard about Jesus, then the best thing you could say to her for the sake of her eternity is, "If anyone tries to tell you about Jesus, just put your hands on your ears, start yelling very loudly, and run away." Obviously this particular methodology is not prescribed in Scripture.

As funny as this is, we kind of live like this. I hate to admit it, but I am going to, I sadly do this almost everyday. Students will come into the office and opportunity may arise for me to discuss this matter with them and I willingly let it slide by. So why exactly am I writing this? To repent and start something new! I also want to encourage anyone who reads this to pour out everything Christ has poured into them onto others. The way God gave me the job I currently have is a constant reminder that I am to be spreading His name and not trying to make mine great.

My deepest desire for my life is to be able to move to a different country (or countries) to share Christ with lost. Yet, if there is a plethora of lost here (domestic and foreign) I want to share with them until God gives me the green light to move. My desire for those following Christ around me is to see them sharing the gospel with others around them. We all have a pool of people that need to know Christ. Are we willing to step out there and share with them? Are we going to continue living as if those who never hear the gospel in the remotest parts of the jungles in Indonesia are going to get a free pass because they have never heard of our Savior? I beg you to seek God and ask Him to show you who does not know Christ around you. God has allowed you to be around the people you are not so you can tip-toe around the gospel but so that He can use you to be bold for His name's sake. Here is the beautiful thing about all of this is you do not have to have a catch phrase or even write a book. You do not even have to know the whole Bible from cover to cover. You just have to trust God and know that He will use you if you are asking Him to. Here is an example. There are two things I really enjoy doing cooking and dancing. God has allowed me to use both of those things to be around women who do not know Christ. He allows me to be around women who either want to learn how to do those things or who enjoy doing them too. God has given you particular interests and talents for a reason. He wants you to use them for His glory and honor and to further His kingdom. So, are you using what He has given you to further His kingdom or are you using it to further yours? Do not let another person come in and out of your life without sharing what Christ has done for, not only you, but for them as well. Do not get stuck in the mindset that they are going to get a free pass if they have never heard of Him. Step up and step out to share the Gospel.