Back in 1992 I attended a Men’s Retreat that had Ben Kinchlow, former co-host of the 700 Club, as the speaker. I remember one great story that he told regarding planning for the future:
A man confessed to his friend, “I’m not happy; I’d like to be a doctor.”
“Well, go ahead,” replied the friend.
“No, that will take ten years and I’ll be 50 by then.”
“How old will you be if you don’t become a doctor?” was the astute reply.
Kinchlow concluded, we’ve got to plan for success, because it doesn’t just happen.
What is your dream? What has God prepared you to become and do? What does age have to do with that higher purpose? Go for it even if it takes ten years.
Tags: doctor, plan, purpose
Former Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, spent 35 years with the United Nations organization. Although shadowed by controversy and scandal, he became known as an evenhanded man with an ability to see the parts and the whole at the same time. He recalled an unforgettable lesson learned in his native Ghana at age 17:
“One day our headmaster walked into the classroom and put up a broad white sheet of paper with a small black dot in the corner. ‘Boys,’ he asked, ‘what do you see?’ All of us shouted in unison, ‘A black dot!’ Then he said, ‘So not a single one of you saw the broad white sheet of paper? Don’t go through life with that attitude.’.”
When we were of the world, we only saw what was in front of us and what we wanted and thought we needed. But when we came to Christ, we stepped into an understanding of another dimension: a spirtiual dimension. We saw (or should see) a much bigger picture in everything we do. We look beyond the dot to see the white paper as well.
Tags: Kofi Annan, purpose, vision
Ephesians 1:9-10 says, “And He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment – to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.”
It is the action of the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) to reveal God’s truth to us who believe. And this spiritual blessing is that he has revealed this truth to us: “the mystery of His will…which He purposed in Christ”. In other words, the mystery of God’s will was that we be redeemed and have life in Christ. When Jesus prayed in the Garden “Father, if there’s any other way, let this cup pass from me”, there was no “other way” but God’s purpose. Yet Christ was resolved to submit to that purpose.
Note, also, that it was God’s “good pleasure” to see His Son go to the cross so that you and I could be redeemed. That’s how much He loves us. The revealing of that love comes day by day.
How has God revealed His love for you lately?
Tags: mystery, purpose