(1 Cor 15:9,10 Phillips) I am the least of the messengers, and indeed I do not deserve that title at all, because I persecuted the Church of God. But what I am now I am by the grace of God. The grace he gave me has not proved a barren gift. I have worked harder than any of the others – and yet it was not I but this same grace of God within me.
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing to learn more about the amazing life of the Apostle Paul, who was raised “Saul of Tarsus.” Personally, I truly enjoy the Apostle Paul. I love his writings, his passion and his dedication. I believe it is mainly because I love his story. While I would never claim to be anything close to the Apostle Paul, I can certainly identify with the diversity I see in both his background and ministry. Paul was both a Roman and a Jew and yesterday I wrote, “Paul could not be pigeon-holed in any one group. He was savvy enough to fit in anywhere, but also exposed to too much to completely fit in anywhere.” Last month one of my mentors visited me here in Virginia and he accompanied me to my church’s Men’s Conference. This man has a very strong and conservative Christian background. One of his friends, after meeting me one time, asked him, “What is he? Is he Baptist, Charismatic, Pentecostal… what?” My mentor could not answer the question, because he did not know what “box” to place me in. While he was visiting me, and listening to the speakers at our Men’s Conference, the question came up again. He asked me, “So, is this where you fit in?” To which I replied, “Well, I fit in here, but then again I don’t. I fit in everywhere and nowhere at the same time.” In this way I identify with Paul.
I grew up as the first of my family to be born in the United States. When I was around Dominicans they were quick to tell me that I was an American and not a true Dominican. But when I was around Americans they were quick to remind me that I was too Dominican to be American. As a youngster growing up in Brooklyn I developed African American and Puerto Rican friends, especially during my elementary school years. However, by the time I was in high school a serious rift had developed between the Dominicans and the African American and Puerto Ricans in my neighborhood. Once separated, the African Americans and Puerto Ricans, although still somewhat “cool” with me, would deal with me at a distance because I was Dominican. The Dominicans, although they embraced me, they also knew I had ties to the other groups. When things got really bad between the groups I was often the only person who could mediate peace.
Let’s Fast Forward to something that happened in 1999. I was at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California for a training exercise and our unit had some downtime before entering the training area. As I walked around and spent time with the troops I decided to join in with some of the games they were playing. I played spades with a group of African Americans, Yuker with a group of Caucasians, Bones (American-style dominoes) with a mixed group of young Soldiers, and Dominoes (the Hispanic way) with a group of Puerto Ricans. Afterwards the Chaplain asked me to lead a Bible study and that night I had a meeting with the Battalion leadership to discuss the exercise. When I finally got to bed in my pup-tent the Holy Spirit dealt with me about my uniqueness. He told me that very few people could go in-and-out of the different socio and status groups I had that day, equally being accepted in each one. I don’t have time to tell you any stories about my diversity in church background, but suffice is to say that it is similar. Whether General or Private, rich or poor, male or female, Black or White, Hispanic or Asian, Baptist or Catholic, Church of God, Church of Christ, or Church of God in Christ, God has and continues to bless me to identify with just about anyone. Like Paul, I believe the Lord has kept me from being pigeon-holed in any one group. I believe it is because God has called me to someday Pastor a multi-cultural, non-denominational church and without me knowing it, God had been preparing me all my life for my purpose. When I was going back and forth between the ethnic groups in Brooklyn, learning to identify with each one, I was actually in training and I did not even know it. This is just another reminder of why none of us is a mistake.
So what does this mean to you today? Two things:
1. All your life, whether you knew it or not, God has been preparing you for your purpose. Nothing that happened to you is a mistake. Good or bad, up or down, easy or hard, your past is part of your story and it has prepared you for where you are today. God made plans for you before the foundations of the world and He has been working all your life — sometimes with your recognition and sometimes without it — to prepare you for your purpose. There are some things you were born with that God needed you to have. Other things you picked up along the way, as He worked behind the scenes to ensure you were in the right place, at the right time, to be exposed to the right things. Whether God’s hand was evident or subtle, He was there and He has been there your entire life, preparing you for your purpose. So, as you enter this day, see yourself as a chosen and prepared instrument in the hands of your Mighty God!
2. You are an original, so don’t settle for being a copy. You were born WHEN you were and WHERE you were for WHY you were. You are not a mistake. The Lord brought you forth, at such a time as this, to impact this generation in the way that only you can. So don’t sell yourself short, don’t minimize who you are in Christ, don’t devalue your potential, and never discredit your uniqueness. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. No one else has your assignment. No one else has your purpose. You are the only person on the planet called to be YOU. So, submit yourself to God, make a concerted effort to live your life in alignment with His assignment, and be the best YOU you can be, because no one else can ever be YOU!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for making plans for me before the foundations of the world. I came forth when I did and where I did, because of Your purpose for me. By faith I declare that I shall FIND, FOLLOW and FINISH my purpose. And I also thank You for helping me to understand that I don’t have to start from scratch. You have been preparing me, all my life, for my purpose, even when I did not know it. Even before I ever acknowledged You as Lord, You were working in my life; sometimes in ways that were clear and often in ways that were too subtle for me to notice. But either way, I can acknowledge today that You called me from my mother’s womb and You have been working all my life to get me to the point where I am today. Not only that, but You promised me, in Your Word, that You are committed to finishing what You have started in me. You called me by Grace, not because I was so good or worthy. You worked in my life by Grace, even before I called upon Your name and made Your my Lord. And You are working in me now by Grace, even in spite of my failures and flaws. Since I am getting a better understanding of Grace, I now understand that I cannot disqualify myself from what You have qualified me for. So instead of living in condemnation, I embrace the Grace to seek to live by faith. By faith I shall be the man/woman You have called me to be. By faith I shall make the impact in this generation You have destined me to make. By faith I shall accomplish all You predestined me to accomplish before the foundations of the world. And by faith I shall be the ME You have made me to be, knowing that no other human on the planet has my purpose or my flavor! I am unique and You will use my uniqueness to leave an indelible mark on this generation. I declare that by faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
