3 reasons God calls us to more
Our ability to navigate God’s call to more rises and falls on our understanding, belief and obedience to His greater purposes. To understand them, we must first surrender to His will (John 7:17).
To know the greater purposes of God is to know His heart; for those purposes are His greatest desires. It is in our hearts that God stores His desires for “greater than” things. These are the desires He will give us as we surrender to His will (Psalm 37:4).
We appropriate His grace for them through the faith He has given us (Romans 10:17). The joy of participation in the greater work of God is found in our obedience to them.
It is in our hearts—where belief takes place—that God stores His desires for “greater than” things. These are the desires He will give us as we surrender to His will (Psalm 37:4).
So, how can we know the greater purposes of God? They are found by comparing the beginning and the end of His story. In the beginning, God lost something. In the end, He will get it all back —for nothing will be denied Him (Job 42:2). Many have not considered that this is the plot of the whole Biblical narrative.
God lost three things in the rebellion of mankind: He lost His reign over their hearts; He lost His habitation with and in His people; and, He lost intimacy with the children He loves.
Since that fateful day, He has been working to get back the desires of His heart. In the end, it all comes together.
Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God himself will be with them and be their God And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. —Revelation 21:2-4
There are at least three things to note in this passage. First, the preparation of the bride precedes the restoration of all things. Second, God will be with them (habitation), they shall be His people (intimacy), and He will be their God (reign). Third, it is then—and only then—that the people of God will benefit.
This is most important: The order is intentional and revealing. His story is first and foremost about Him and His desires. The same is true regarding His call to more—for every one of us.
If we have prepared our minds to be renewed, we will come to understand, believe and obey God’s call to more—in the context (and constraints) of His greater purposes.
Photo source: istock
 | Rob Streetman serves the body of Christ as President of two parachurch ministries: inLight Consulting (a workplace transformation ministry) and 2:2 Collective (a unity and church growth ministry). He is the author of two books: The Map Maker and A Storm is Coming. Rob’s heart desires is to encourage, edify and equip Christian leaders as disciple-makers and transformation agents—that they would become houses that stand in the storms of this life. He previously worked in various IT industry positions. Learn More » |
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