Saturday, November 8, 2008

How Vital Are You in the Kingdom of God?

2 Kings 5:1-3 tells us about a great commander of the armies named Naaman. He was a high ranking official, a general in the army. And then, there was his wife’s little maid. Read the rest of the chapter to get the whole story.

His wife’s maid was a “servant”. This was actually a promotion in God’s Kingdom, because God had an assignment for her to do. She didn’t get into this “position” by chance. She was good at her job, no matter how menial it may have seemed to those on the outside looking in. If she hadn’t been there to do her “assignment” by using her gifts and abilities, things may have turned out quite differently. God knew she was the one who would be obedient and fulfill this task for Him.

Psalm 37:23 states that “the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and He delighteth in his way”. Her steps were ordered of the Lord. She had an assignment.

Sometimes we are in “positions” that we resist. You tell yourself it’s too menial. I have more to offer…blah, blah, blah. I could actually be a promotion in the Kingdom of God. Does God have an assignment for you? Has He given you this position to accomplish a mission for the Kingdom? There are no mistakes when He has ordered your steps.

My favorite Scripture tells it like no other. Acts 17:26-27:
“And He made from one common origin, one source, one blood, all nations of men to settle on the face of the earth, having definitely determined their allotted periods of time and the fixed boundaries of their habitation, their settlements, lands, and abodes, so that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after Him and find Him, although He is not far from each one of us.”

It’s my favorite Scripture because it has been an encouragement to me for years. When I felt lost and out of place, I read that verse. When things didn’t fit in my life, I read that verse. When nothing fell in line, I read that verse. He was placing me in position to seek after Him. The circumstances of my life caused me to seek after Him.

We are in the “place” and “time” where He has placed us. God assigns you your residence. You don’t choose where to live. He knows where you will seek Him the most. One translation says that we would “grope” after Him as in desperately groping for something in the dark. He places us in time, place, and circumstances so that we will “grope” after Him, to seek after Him. He wants us dependent on Him. He wants to give us direction and assignments where we are, in the midst of sometimes overwhelming circumstances.

So, no matter where you are and what you are doing, God has an assignment. It may seem small, but may accomplish much. Naaman was used by God to win battles. He was a mighty warrior and was gifted of God as a leader. Had he not been healed, what good would he have been to God’s army? Had the little maid not obeyed God, Naaman would have lost position and ultimately died. Israel would have lost battles and suffered great loss. You tell me the little maid didn’t have a big assignment? Her obedience saved the nation. How important are you to God’s Kingdom? You never know………just be obedient where you are.

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