The End of All Things
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Proverbs 19:20-21
Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom for the future. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established.
Revelation 22:7-9
7. And behold, I am coming soon." Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. 8. I John am he who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me; 9. but he said to me, "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brethren the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God."
1 Peter 4:7-11
7. The end of all things is at hand; therefore keep sane and sober for your prayers. 8. Above all hold unfailing your love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9. Practice hospitality ungrudgingly to one another. 10. As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11. whoever speaks, as one who utters oracles of God; whoever renders service, as one who renders it by the strength which God supplies; in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Had a conversation with my walking buddy this morning about being called and what that means. She was at a conference and one of the speakers said that the most important call—more important that what we do as a career or hobby, or volunteer project—is our call to follow Jesus. That got me to thinking . . . God made us to worship him. So what does a life planned, designed, lived around and for that purpose look like? Probably pretty different from the one I’m living!
And I wonder sometimes at “the end of all things” if I’ll be able to look into the face of God—or more likely bow at his feet, unable to see the glory of his face—and say, “Yes, I lived my life on purpose, for your purpose, as you made me to do.” I will certainly be able to say I tried! OK . . . I tried
most of the time. OK . . . I tried when I wasn’t too tired or too busy to figure out if the next thing I planned to do was part of God’s purpose for me . . . OK . . . honestly, most of the time . . . my answer would have to be “Nope.”
I’ve been pretty crabby the past couple of days, and I know it’s because I’m letting the world “run my life.” So with this new realization/recognition, I’m going to recommit to make my to-do list and do the best I can to complete it, and as the day progresses, I’ll just have to make adjustments and decisions about what must be done for my job, what must be done for my life, what must be done for my God. Everything else will be moved to the next day’s list! I’m sure I’ll be letting you know how that works out!
I’m going to try to reconnect to God’s purpose(s) for my life and be true to them today—because, after all . . .
Today could be the day!I hope you’ll join me in re-establishing God’s purpose as the purpose behind everything we do today. And that you will be able to say “Yes, Lord” when he asks if you lived on
His terms, according to
His plans.
Mary
