If our passage looks a little
familiar to you, it may be because we recently looked at it in the broader
context of Paul’s sermon at Mars Hills (see blog post here). Sometimes I have a disquieting feeling like,
“How did I end up here at this stage of my life?” Out of all the places in the
world, is this where I’m supposed to be? Or maybe you will recognize this
feeling – when you go on vacation somewhere and think, “Why don’t we just move
here? After all, life is short and we should maximize our enjoyment before it’s
too late.” Let’s take a deeper look at how
God’s purposes for us (Position, Place, Preparation) can help us bloom just where
He has planted us.
Acts 17:26
From one man He made all the nations, that they
should inhabit the whole earth; and He marked out their appointed times in
history and the boundaries of their lands.
Things to think about:
· Where sounds like a dream destination to you?
o
What does that place have that your hometown doesn’t?
o
What doesn’t it have that your hometown does have?
· Does this
feeling of discontent ever crop up in your mind?
o
How do you address it?
Position
· We live in
the richest country the world has ever known. We have been blessed materially
as well as with great freedoms. In the book of Esther, a young Jewish girl
Esther had risen from being a nobody to the lofty role of Queen. There develops a devious plan to kill all of
the Jews and her Uncle Mordecai tells her in Esther 4:14, “For if you remain
silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will
arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who
knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
o
How does our relative royalty imply an obligation to those who are
not in a position to adequately fend for themselves?
o
Ephesians 5:13-14, “You, my brothers and sisters,
were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the
flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the
entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as
yourself.”
Place
· As we see in
our verse today, God has marked out the times and places for people, including
you and me. He has you uniquely situated
to be of service to Him and others.
o
Eph. 6:10 - Therefore,
as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those
who belong to the family of believers.
- Opportunity is really a function of place and time
o
How has God used you in your neighborhood, place of work, or other
social arenas to be His light in the darkness?
o
Is there anything holding you back from being even more available?
Preparation
· As believers,
we are all in a state of constant refinement to become “holy as He is
holy”. This is called
sanctification. In Genesis, we read of Joseph
being stuck in prison for years after being sold into slavery by his brothers
and then unjustly accused by Potiphar’s wife.
It might seem that this was a huge waste of time. But we know that
Joseph was a little cocky and had some growing up to do. This was so that he could become the man God would later use to save both Egypt and his family through
the great seven-year famine.
o
Can you reflect on a time when you went through a season that
wasn’t particularly pleasant but now you can see how His hand was shaping you
for a greater work?
§ Psalm 66:10 -
For
You have tried us, O God; You have refined us as silver is refined.
o
Are you going through such a time now?
Bloom!
· Phil. 1:12-14, “Now I want you to know, brothers
and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the
gospel. As a result, it has become
clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I
am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the
brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to
proclaim the gospel without fear.”
o
Paul bloomed where God had planted him. Even though it was in a
Roman prison, Paul was able to see the hand of God moving in his life to impact
people for eternity.
o
2 Corinthians 2:15-16, “ For we are to God the pleasing
aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are
perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the
other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not
peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak
before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.”
· God has sent
you to where He has planted you. Now let
your fragrance rise to please your Father and grow His family!
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