Joy comes from seeing the complete fulfillment of the specific purpose for which I was created and born again, not from successfully doing something of my own choosing. The joy our Lord experienced came from doing what the Father sent Him to do. And He says to us, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21). Have you received a ministry from the Lord? If so, you must be faithful to it— to consider your life valuable only for the purpose of fulfilling that ministry. Knowing that you have done what Jesus sent you to do, think how satisfying it will be to hear Him say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). We each have to find a niche in life, and spiritually we find it when we receive a ministry from the Lord. To do this we must have close fellowship with Jesus and must know Him as more than our personal Savior. And we must be willing to experience the full impact of Acts 9:16 — “I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”“Do you love Me?” Then, “Feed My sheep” (John 21:17). He is not offering us a choice of how we can serve Him; He is asking for absolute loyalty to His commission, a faithfulness to what we discern when we are in the closest possible fellowship with God. If you have received a ministry from the Lord Jesus, you will know that the need is not the same as the call— the need is the opportunity to exercise the call. The call is to be faithful to the ministry you received when you were in true fellowship with Him. This does not imply that there is a whole series of differing ministries marked out for you. It does mean that you must be sensitive to what God has called you to do, and this may sometimes require ignoring demands for service in other areas.

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March 5, 2014

Journal for Today-JDV

Lord, I am not sure about the notion that there is a specific purpose for which I was created, and all that I must do is “discover” the purpose You have laid out for me. I know we spend a lot of time contemplating and searching for the “niche” in life we have been taught is laid out by You. I used to have the idea that all I needed to be fulfilled was to learn my calling and then pursue it.  However, lately I have wondered. I cannot imagine that You would be anything less that crystal clear in communicating Your direction and calling for my life. I cannot imagine that I must go looking for my calling. If it is truly my calling I suspect there will be no doubt and You will, like always, be crystal clear.

And God says…”There is no search required, just surrender. You cannot “figure out” or “discern” the mind of God. And your logic has no place in discovering or understanding My plans. You cannot fit Me into your ideas of what is or is not “My way”. Simply trust Me with all your heart, and let go off your own notions of service. When you are surrendered and connected to me I can live and serve through you. When you seek Jesus first, you are transformed and certain about your next steps… the next few steps. I light your way like a lamp, a step or two at a time. And as you continue to live connected to Me, and believe I will meet all your needs, I roll out your vision and your path (s) for service one hour, one day, at a time. And when I bring you to it, you can rest assured that I will bring you through it. Trust in Me with all our heart and do not rely on your own understanding or abilities, and I will make your paths straight.”