My pastor has been preaching out of the book of Acts for some time now and as he has often encouraged us to “chop our own wood” by reading it in our own time at home, I have endeavored to do just that. I have read the book of Acts several times in these past months and as I recently read a passage that I had read many times before, a particular verse leapt out at me. It was Acts 13:36 and you may wonder why it stood out to me after I share it with you.
“For David, after serving his own generation in God’s plan, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and decayed.” This isn’t exactly a verse that many people would focus on but there was a phrase in the middle of this verse that really caught my attention. It was the part about “serving his own generation in God’s plan” that spoke to my heart. Let’s face it; most of us are not going to be called to be the king of Israel like David was, but we each have a purpose in God’s plan.
Every single one of us is being called by God to serve our generation in His plan. Beloved, God put you here in this time and in this place for a purpose. There is something that only you can do in your generation in His plan. There is something for which you have been created to do for Him! (Actually, it is likely there are a great many things He has created you to do for Him!) You have a part to play in God’s plan for you generation, my friend.
What is that part? I have no idea, but God does (Jer. 29:11)! God alone knows exactly what purpose He has in mind for you and when you seek His face and ask for His guidance, He reveals it to you (Amos 3:7; John 15:15; Prov. 3:5-6). If you wish to know what your part in His plan is, you must spend time with Him and in His Word. You must get to know Him so that He can reveal His plans for you to you. Spend time in His Word and this will help you to better know His plans for His children.
May I offer a word of advice, my friend? Pay attention to the word serve in this verse. I compared about 7 or 8 different Bible versions, and they all used the word serve in this verse. Why? Because that is what we are called to do! We are each called to serve in one way or another. “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” Mark 10:45. If Jesus came to serve, how much more should we be willing to serve?
Dear heart, you are here for a purpose and that purpose is to serve God and to serve those He calls you to serve. “And He sat down and called the twelve. And He said to them, ‘If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all’” Mark 9:35. We are called to follow Christ’s example and serve as He served. Like David, we too are being asked to serve our generation in God’s plan. I don’t know about you, but I want it to be said that I did what God was asking me to do for Him!
In closing, dear friend, be encouraged by the knowledge that you were created for a purpose, and you are here for a reason. Be encouraged that God can and will help you to do all that He asks you to do for Him (Phil. 4:13). Be encouraged by Job’s reminder that no plan of God’s can be thwarted and that His purposes will prevail (Job 42:1-2). You can also cling to the promise that “He who began a good work in you will carry it on until completion” (Phil. 1:6).
You can fulfill the purpose He created you for because He will help you! You are not doing it in your own strength; He will provide what you need!
Katrina Douglas
7/4/22
