“His Purpose, Our Purpose” Part 2

 – A Challenge, An Opportunity

     After writing the message yesterday morning about God’s purpose and our purpose being the exaltation and revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ, I experienced a personal challenge concerning the matter.

    Frances and I stopped at a fast food restaurant for breakfast, planning on making our purchase in the drive thru. The line of cars was long, however, so I decided to go into the restaurant.  There were few customers inside, but only one young lady worked the counter.  She busied herself with previous orders without seeming to be in a hurry, and I stood for what seemed like quite a while before she asked for my order.

    During my wait, I began to feel irritated, first by the restaurant for what appeared to be inadequate staffing, and then by the young lady, who did not seem to understand how valuable my time is! I felt my jaw tense, and I came very close to crossing my arms and adopting a posture that would clearly indicate my displeasure to anyone who might want to know how I felt.

     Then it hit me.  I remembered what I had written less than an hour earlier.  More importantly, I remembered the many Scriptural passages that concern the centrality of Christ and our representation of Him.  “Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (I Corinthians 10:31). Some questions came to mind.  “Is my purpose in being here simply to buy food in what I believe to be a proper amount of time?  Or am I here first and foremost as an ambassador of the Lord Jesus, and as a participant in God’s eternal purpose in Christ?

    By the grace and enabling of the Holy Spirit, I unclenched my jaw, kept my arms unfolded, and determined adopt a calm and happy demeanor.  I also decided to be pleasant to the young lady behind the counter, who as it turns out, treated me also with a gracious attitude.  I made my purchase, and walked out of the restaurant with a grateful heart, along with the memory of both God’s faithfulness and a nice exchange with the young lady.  I was quite aware that had the Lord not brought to mind His Word and my own words, the experience would likely have been far different.

    Life is too long, eternally too long to waste opportunities to join our Heavenly Father in His eternal purposes related to the glory of the Lord Jesus.  A good friend often reminds me that every person we meet is an immortal whom we influence either positively or negatively concerning their eternal place and condition. God privileges us to represent Him, and then He works in us in order to enable our fulfillment of His high calling in Christ Jesus.  We have the freedom and responsibility to respond to His leadership, and then the joy of joining Him in honoring His Son.  I’m grateful for the reminder this morning, and for a challenge that become yet another opportunity to experience God’s purpose that He graciously makes our purpose…

“He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.”

(Colossians 1:18)