Time and Place

Pro God's Timing

In those days a decree went out … And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:1-7

God’s plans are great and vast; but His fulfillment of those plans is specific and detailed, personal and positional. The events, and places, and times of our life are not random -- even if they uproot us or come at inconvenient moments and take us into places where there seems to be no room or acceptance for us. We have not been chosen at random. God has a plan for even our heritage and ancestry. We are not here by happenchance. He has called us specifically to the culture and current events of our life. Yet, we cannot be fully useful if we are not aware of the events and circumstances around us. We cannot be responsive to the needs and issues of our time if we do not pay attention or engage with the world around us.

Whether it is conditions in Africa, the Middle East, our Nation’s Capitol, our surrounding community, or our own back yard, we cannot bring the love of Christ into the world if we are not actively engaging in that world. The headlines must be our call to prayer – not our source of cynicism or condemnation. The broken families and lonely people in our communities are calling to our very souls to reach out with the love of Christ and a loaf of bread. And the unwelcoming streets of crime and fear in the cities where money and power are brokered and people are ignored, used, and thrown away are crying out for God’s Presence – to be recognized, loved, and cared for.

It is “for such a time as this” [see Esther 4:14] that each one of us has been placed where we are in the history of the Kingdom. Will you go – even at inconvenient times or to unwelcoming places to fulfill God’s great journey for your life?

Let's DO something about it:

• This week before you get out of bed ask the Holy Spirit to show you who or what situation you are to be specifically praying for.
• Then ask the Holy Spirit to make you aware of any person or situation that you encounter during your day that you can minister to in some way.
• Finally at the end of your day, ask the Holy Spirit to show you what opportunities you embraced, and which ones you missed during the day.

In the Wilderness

Pro Growth

And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel. Luke 1:80

For John to fulfill his calling he had to grow and become strong in spirit. This took isolation and intention. John did not seek out or settle in places that promised fame, fortune, or prosperity – quite to the contrary, he stayed in the wilderness until the day– the day that God had established, the day God had determined as the right time. Until the day when John was prepared, physically as well as spiritually, and God’s plans were ready to be set in motion.

We often grow impatient with our desire to serve – or expecting others to “step up to the plate.” But God’s plans take time, and if we want to participate fully in those plans we must be intentional about growing and becoming spiritually strong. That means we must be willing to get out of the limelight and settle in the wilderness for a while.

We must also be willing to allow others to settle into their wilderness times as well. Luke tells us that John’s neighbors expected great things from him, (Luke 1:66). We can imagine their thoughts and comments as the boy grew in obscurity, and apparent “ordinariness.” But John was faithful to God’s plans for his life – and one can suppose that his parents, the ones who had been blessed by God’s very real Presence and Power, may have encouraged him to stay true to his own course.

To serve God fully we must be committed to growth. Our own growth, and the growth of others. Occasionally we must seek the wilderness.

Let's DO something about it:

Fame, fortune, and prosperity – they all sound much more enticing than “wilderness.” Yet, if we want to experience real growth, real spiritual strength, and real fulfillment of God’s call on our life, we have to decide where our focus lies.

• Consider the concepts of “growth” and “spiritual strength.” What do they mean to you? How important are they to your daily life?
• Prayerfully consider how willing you would be to give up the “limelight” of fame, fortune, or prosperity for the loneliness and anonymity of the wilderness?
• Is there someone you know who needs encouragement during their “wilderness” experience?