Dear Family and Friends,

Do you remember those soul searching moments in your youth when you wondered about your future?

Now that you’re a Christ follower, have you ever had moments when you wondered what God has planned for your future?

I suspect many of us have wondered what our role in God’s Kingdom will be. 

To help us better anticipate what that may be, let’s begin by reviewing the stages we walk through as disciples of Christ.

“In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.”  1 Peter 5:10 NLT

Suffering (paschó)means to be subjected to and afflicted by evil, as seen in this preceding verse:

“Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”  1 Peter 5:8 NIV

In other words, our verse is not about suffering from every day cuts and bruises. No, it’s speaking of long lasting, soul damaging suffering caused by evil.

We’ve all been hurt by the words and actions of others. We’ve all hurt ourselves by following temptations laid out before us. A few of these hurts may have healed with time. But the scars remain.

Some of us knew we were broken or scarred when we first met Jesus. Others of us didn’t realize just how bad off we were, simply accepting what we thought was normal.

But on that day when we received Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He began to restore (katartizó) us, to complete us, to bring us back to our proper condition.

This restoration stage will vary from person to person. But despite the many differences between us, one thing remains constant – our Lord’s promise to restore us.

Peter next mentions how God will support (stérizó) us, to strengthen, make firm, to render us constant.

I liken this stage to God placing us in the good soil Jesus spoke of in the parable of the sower.

“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”  Matthew 13:23 NIV

Perhaps that good soil is the church family best suited for us. A family who accepts us as we are, allows us time to heal and restore, sets no expectations for earning our stay, and gives us grace as we take missteps.

And most of all, whose love for one another serves as an example so we can do likewise.

In the next stage of our journey, God will strengthen (sthenoó) us, make us strong.

Many of us are around this mile marker in our walk with Christ.

In this stage we learn God’s word and learn how to live as Christians.

And the Holy Spirit transforms us, guiding and correcting us as we obey God’s word.

“The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”  John 14:26 NIV

The final stage is when God places us on a firm foundation (themelioó), laying the foundation for His will, purpose and plans for us.

And when God reveals His plans, the convergence of our gifts, passions, experiences, knowledge and faith in the Lord will all begin to make sense. 

But this stage brings many of us consternation. When and how will we know what He wants us to do? Does he want me to do more, or something else…

These are questions we each need to pray and ask the Lord.

Continually seek Him. And on the day He answers, you will know. The feelings, the tug on your heart, are undeniable. And by the way, so is the assignment…

Just don’t be surprised if what He asks of you seems simple and small. 

Nicky Gumbel, priest and founder of Alpha, shared in his book, Questions of Life, the story of a man most of us never heard of. Here is a short recap of that story. 

Albert McMakin was so enthusiastic about Jesus after attending a revival meeting, he started inviting all his friends. There was, however, one young friend who had to be coerced into going. Albert persisted and prevailed.

That friend was so spellbound by what he heard, he kept returning to these meetings. Soon after, Albert’s friend gave his life to Jesus. 

The year was 1934. The friend’s name was Billy Graham. 

In Acts 1:8 NIV, Jesus said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 

We are called to be witnesses for Jesus. And we can be witnesses regardless of where we are on the discipleship path.

Albert wasn’t a Biblical scholar when he obeyed the prompting of the Lord. 

We don’t have to be either. All we have to do is listen, as Albert did, to God’s prompting in our hearts and obey.

In love always,