1 Corinthians 10:31 “Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatsoever you do, do ALL to the glory of God”.
It is not my action that defines me, but in God’s eyes, the motive of my heart and my heart’s attitude. If what I do is not done to God’s glory, it is but “wood, hay and stubble”……”…..and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is”, (1 Corinthians 3:10-15).
My Heavenly Father is ever seeking to see another measure of the fullness of His Son manifest in this life I now live, to His glory.
Galatians 2:20 (The Passion translation) “My old identity has been crucified with Christ and no longer lives. And now the essence of this new life is no longer mine, for the Anointed One lives his life through me – we live in union as one. My new life is empowered by the Son of God who loves me so much that he gave himself for me, dispensing his life into mine”.
The divine Potter is ever seeking to make His vessels fit for purpose, His divine purpose. There is a big difference between purpose and permission. There is a permissive will of God and the perfect will of God, that is, divine purpose.
In God’s permissive will, He has allowed much and placed His blessing even on the traditions of men. It is wisdom to remind ourselves that what God blesses, He does not necessarily sanction. God’s blessing on a person does not indicate the righteousness of that person’s position. It is God’s nature to bless. He has permitted much because man has fallen short of his high calling and entered into permission.
Consider this: It was never God’s divine purpose for His people to be ruled by a king. Israel was a chosen nation, by God, and He wanted them to recognise His rule over them. The people, however, insisted that they wanted to be like all the other nations and have a king to rule them. God granted their request and blessed them, but they entered into permission and missed His perfect will in divine purpose, by demanding their own way. If we do not learn from history we will repeat it! Permission is always second best. God will not leave you, nor His peace, because He is faithful. Why settle for less than God’s best? Jesus’ sacrifice at Calvary unlocked the door of heaven and all the fullness of our birthright in Christ. Why hang on to the right to ourselves and forfeit that blessedness of purpose? On judgement day, the only gold produced in my life is what I have done for my Father’s glory.
Some of the kings were godly men and God blessed their rule, but some were wicked and the nation suffered under their evil rule. Our choices always have consequences.
How much of the life I have lived till now would fit into each category: purpose or permission? What percentage of this little window of time God grants each of us is acceptable to God as purpose?
In Galatians the apostle, Paul, reprimanded the people. They began their walk with Christ in the Spirit, but then slipped back into the traditions of men and the law. They left purpose and entered into permission. He addresses the problem and encourages them to, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage”, Galatians 5:1.
Colossians 1:26-27 “The mystery which has been hid from ages and generations, but now is made manifest in his saints…..Christ in you, the hope of glory“. I am a new creation in Christ. He is my identity now. His nature defines me, not my gifting from Him. As I abide in Him, the Vine, He will produce fruit in my life. Jesus said: “A tree is known by it’s fruit”. Any fruit produced is to be shared and bless others. Jesus is the Source of all fruit production, all the glory is God’s. I delight my Heavenly Father when He sees the life of His Son living and flowing through me to others.
The famous quote: “We live our lives to an audience of One” is indelibly stamped on a surrendered life lived to God’s glory and purpose.
