God has a vision for your life. He created you with a unique blend of talents and passions. Have you yet caught this vision? Do you understand what you are to do with your life? I think we often make the mistake of trying to determine what big thing we can do, something that will have an enormous impact. Instead we should be aware of the little opportunities that surround us every day. No one needs to be famous to make a difference for the Kingdom of God. You don’t need to be in the professional ministry. I chose not to say “full time ministry”, because all followers of Christ are in full time ministry, not just those who get paid for it. Understand that we should always be doing the work of Jesus.
What are the things that break your heart? If you aren’t sure where your passions lie, simply go through the list of people that Scripture instructs us to serve. Think of the hungry, the thirsty (including those with no access to clean water), the poor, the sick, the homeless, those in prison, widows (including single mother’s), and orphans (Matthew 25:31-46; James 1:27). Perhaps, like me, it breaks your heart to see Christians who do not take seriously the mission of Christ. Read through the gospels and discover the things that upset Jesus, the things He taught against; which of those stirs a passion within you?
Once you have found what stirs you inside, it’s time to evaluate the talents and abilities you possess; how could you use those skills to do the work of Jesus in the area of your passion? Don’t think too large at this point; simply write down every way you can think of to serve others within your area of concern, then apply your gifts to those ideas. Break everything down to the smallest step possible, a bite-sized step that you can take immediately. Then, and this is the most important part, go do that task. As you continue to pile up the little efforts, you will suddenly find yourself having a huge impact on the world for the sake of His kingdom. You may think you are having an effect on only a small and seemingly insignificant number of people, but you never know who those same people might impact in turn. Be content with small deeds and trust God to multiply them in large ways.
We all have a vision to live out in the name of God. We all have a purpose in the mission of Christ. Don’t wait for the vision to discover you; instead, pursue it and embrace it when you find it. You were created to play a role that only you can fill; don’t let your life go by without discovering and relishing your vision. Ask God to reveal your passions and gifts to you and then use them for His purpose. Don’t waste your time looking for a roadmap; the way is already inside of you. Find your passion and apply your gifts to it. If you need help discovering what that looks like in your particular situation, drop me a note (tim@evenifiwalkalone.com) and we can chat about it; I’d love to help.
Imagine what would happen if millions of Christians were to start taking small steps and living out their vision. The world would be changed and every one of us would have a part in impacting all of humanity in ways bigger than we ever imagined. Live your passion and play your role. Lose yourself in the vision of God for your life and watch what He will do through you.
Question: What area(s) of passion has God given you?