Destined For Greatness

Sermon Reflections from Destined For Greatness | Alex Hardt | September 24, 2023

It was good to have Pastor Alex back in the pulpit after his adventures and misadventures into the world of medicine, surgery and healing.  God is good and He returned Alex to us filled and renewed.

Have you thought about what your purpose is in life and why God put you right where you are?  Knowing our Omnipotent God does not make mistakes, we have to consider what is around me, who is around me that God wants me to impact with His message.  We were created to give God glory so where do you need to spread or show His glory right where you are?

Our passage in 1 Peter 2 begins with Paul’s admonition to rid ourselves of all evil, hypocrisy, envy, slander, etc. and be ready to take in God’s spiritual food to make us strong and able to face the pressures of this world.  Paul tells us we are chosen by God and much will be required of us, so we need to be ready.  Being chosen by faith in Jesus is a privilege and because we chose to follow Jesus we are precious to Him.  Ponder that for a minute or two.  Chosen by God and Precious to Him.  What better place can there be than being one who is set apart for His work and loved by Him.   I am reminded of one of my favorite verses Nahum 1:7 “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble.   He cares for those who trust in him,”    Being precious to Him guarantees we are going to be cared for in good times and bad.  He is always good, we can depend upon Him.

Once we accept that we are chosen and precious to Him, we can get on with aligning ourselves with Jesus and looking with expectation towards the work He has for us.  How does one align themselves with Jesus?, would seem a critical question.  Peter would suggest that making Christ the cornerstone of our faith is critical.  Jesus needs to be the central focus of our study and worship.  Dive into God’s Word and learn about Jesus.  Pray and ask Him for discernment and wisdom in your everyday life.  Seek to reflect Jesus and his foundational principles within your life.  Be daring and bold, asking God what purpose He has for you and pray for the courage to step out where He leads you, as He will! 

Are you aligned with Jesus?  If you consider yourself on the pathway God has laid out for you, then seek to live out each day in God.  Ask yourself, who can I bring alongside me today to talk with about God?   Where can I show His love, kindness, gentleness and hope through the circumstances of my day?  Maybe you don’t see an opportunity to talk about God, so make one!  Call a friend, or someone who is suffering and offer a ‘cup of cold water’ in His name through your words and prayers.  Maybe it is time to send a card to which you can add a word of encouragement.  Maybe it is time to plan an event to bring others into fellowship in your home or at a restaurant.  God meant us for community and we need to be engaged.  You can’t talk and live with and in God by yourself.  You were chosen to be in the world relating and filling the needs people have for Him.  When in doubt, remember and claim our memory verse in Luke 18:27 “Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

If we are about His kingdom’s work, we can leave a legacy of faith in our wake showing His greatness.
Linda

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