August 13 - What has God ever called you to DO???

Beatitudes episode 1

What does God expect you to do? 

If I’m honest, There is a dangerous pressure that I have witnessed being placed on kids, and even adults, that sounds like this - God is going to use you to do great things! 

I mean, I hope that is true! And I pray that over every one I come in contact with. But I refuse to say it. Do you understand the pressure it puts on someone when you say God has great things in store for them that he wants them to do. . . It puts pressure to perform, and an unreal expectation to do something that actually has nothing to do with us. 

Does God really want people to DO great things?

Maybe you’ve been told this or have had someone speak over you that God was going to use your story to do something great in the lives of others. 

Again, I pray that to be true. But is that what our story is for? 

Are we supposed to hold it out like some sort of power source designed for some great purpose? Here is the problem, when we put that pressure on someone, it causes a misalignment of purpose and motivation. 

Let me explain what I mean. 

God never set expectations on people to DO. 

The problem with today’s society is that everything, including relationship, is a performance based transaction. Society begs the question, “What can you do for me?” It is why people are primarily friends with those who agree with them and have the same ideologies as them. We have been tricked into thinking that the way someone performs is contingent on their ability to be loved and befriended. It is why you don’t want to be friends with that person that you “just don’t get anything out of the relationship.” 

The tragic part is that this creeps into our relationship with God as well. 

How many times have you thought to yourself that you would read your Bible more so that you could have more of God’s love. 

Or have you fasted, just because you thought that if you didn’t, you wouldn’t get the blessings of God? 

Now don’t get me wrong, Fasting is important, and we will talk about it soon, but fasting doesn’t secure a blessing. God doesn’t need you to read a certain number of verses in order to pour his blessing on you. And you aren’t expected to do something great for God in order to be called His. . . . 

But while you aren’t called to do. . . . You ARE called to BE!

God isn’t concerned with what you do, but he is extremely alert to who you become! 

There is a verse in Ecclesiastes that I love that says this, 6:10

“Everything has already been decided. It was known long ago wha tech person would be. So there’s no use arguing with God about your destiny.” 

This is the wisdom of King Solomon. He is making sure we understand that God has put time and thought into what each person would Be. He made you intentionally the way you are. This isn’t a list of things to do. It doesn’t come with a task list that you check off in order to fulfill your purpose. 

It is a hopeful formation of you as a person.

God wants you to BE who he designed you to BE!

And what exactly is that? 

Well, a uniquely formulated image bearer of Yahweh - the Creator God. 

God has ordained that you would become a person that represents him and is full of his presence. And the best part, is that you don’t have to focus on doing anything. You just have to become who God created you to be. 

This is why Jesus starts off the very best sermon ever preached with a list of BEattitudes instead of DOattitudes. 

Listen to this list in Matthew 5:1-12

Over the next couple of days, we are going to walk through this list of beatitudes one at a time. And as we do, the goal is to help you identify the type of person that God has called you to be. But I want to start by doing a practice that I believe will help you. 

Open your Bible and re-read this list. But as you do, slow down and ask God to reveal to you where you have tried to Do instead of trying to Be. 

Let me say it this way. . If you are pursuing a relationship with God the Father, the Living God who breaths life into all things. . . . He is so pleased and proud of you! Reading a set number of verses, or fasting a specific number of days won’t make him more proud. It will help you grow deeper and understand God’s ways more, but that’s a bonus for understanding who you are and who God designed you to be!

So I’m going to pray over, and then I want you to read this list again. And as you do, I pray that Holy Spirit reveals areas in your life where you are trying to accomplish, instead of just letting God help you become. And as we study this section together over the next few days, I pray it helps you to understand what you believe, and why you believe it to be true. But for now, I love you, and as you become who God designed you to be, May God Bless you!