What’s the meaning of life? Why am I here? What am I supposed to do while I am here? Who am I? Where do I fit in? Have you ever contemplated any of those questions?
I believe we all have questions like this at some point in our lives. We may or may not voice these things, but we think about them. We are just living life making decisions, sometimes because of necessity. Other times, we make decisions because we believe it’s what we want. How many have made some of those and found out you were very wrong—it was not what you thought it would be? Somehow, the result looks way different than the decision you imagined.
Sometimes, we ask God to guide us, and sometimes we ask God to bless our mess. If we give God our mess, He will weave a message, but He is not going to bless our mess, yours or mine. He’s the giver of life, not death. The wages of sin is death—every time—unless we repent with Godly repentance. (Romans 6:23, 1 John 1:9)
Perhaps you are wondering how being in a mess relates to sin.
We often hear of sin as missing the mark, and it is. But this word for sin also means self-empowered or self-originated. In other words, they did not originate, nor were they empowered by God. They simply were not of faith. Sin is not the focus of this blog, but I bring it up because so many times, we wind up in a big mess because of ourselves, those ideas that originate with us and are empowered by us. We can indeed end up in a mess through no fault of our own, but usually, our mess can be traced back to our self-originated and empowered decisions.
I want to focus on how to avoid those self-imposed pitfalls and traps. We will face trouble and trials in this world, but Jesus has already overcome them, so we can also be overcomers. (John 16:33) But there is only one way—God’s way.
Matthew 22:14, “Many are called, but few are chosen.” That’s sort of short and sweet but so full of meaning! It is something we all should consider. Do you desire to be chosen?
In Acts 1:3, the Bible tells us Jesus spent forty days with His disciples, teaching them about the Kingdom. This is the last earthly time Jesus would spend with His disciples, but He did not give a conference on soul winning or how to do this or that—He taught about the Kingdom. We sing about Jesus being the King. We say He is the King of kings, and He certainly is. But if we want to be successful citizens of God’s Kingdom, we must be in allegiance to the King, Jesus Christ.
Matthew 22: 1-14 (AMPC) “And again Jesus spoke to them in parables (comparisons, stories used to illustrate and explain), saying,
2 The kingdom of heaven is like a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son
3 And sent his servants to summon those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they refused to come.
4 Again he sent other servants, saying, Tell those who are invited, Behold, I have prepared my banquet; my bullocks and my fat calves are killed, and everything is prepared; come to the wedding feast.
5 But they were not concerned and paid no attention [they ignored and made light of the summons, treating it with contempt] and they went away—one to his farm, another to his business,
6 While the others seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and put them to death.
7 [Hearing this] the king was infuriated; and he sent his soldiers and put those murderers to death and burned their city.
8 Then he said to his servants, The wedding [feast] is prepared, but those invited were not worthy.
9 So go to the thoroughfares where they leave the city [where the main roads and those from the country end] and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.
10 And those servants went out on the crossroads and got together as many as they found, both bad and good, so [the room in which] the wedding feast [was held] was filled with guests.
11 But when the king came in to view the guests, he looked intently at a man there who had on no wedding garment.
12 And he said, Friend, how did you come in here without putting on the [appropriate] wedding garment? And he was speechless (muzzled, gagged).
13 Then the king said to the attendants, Tie him hand and foot, and throw him into the darkness outside; there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.
14 For many are called (invited and summoned), but few are chosen.
Jesus spoke this parable to His disciples to help them understand His Kingdom. Everywhere Jesus went, His message was in the Kingdom. During this time, the host provided the guest with wedding attire; therefore, this guest had no excuse for not being appropriately dressed. The audience Jesus was speaking to would have understood that.
Jesus’ finished work was not just dying and rising from death; He ascended to be seated at the Father’s right hand. When He said, “It is finished,” He meant it. He had provided everything we would ever need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). He provided for our Kingdom way of life. But we have to make use of the victory He provided.
Many are called, but few are chosen. Called here means to salvation. Many are called to salvation. Chosen means those chosen by God to render unique service to Him. Many are called to salvation, but few walk in the destiny for their life being chosen by God to render their unique service to Him. Some want salvation because they want a better life or perhaps because they don’t want to go to hell, but they never release their will to King Jesus. We must align with our allegiance to Jesus as our King to be chosen.
Sometimes, people feel they aren’t qualified for much in life. Others think they are qualified for whatever skills they went to school to learn. Others believe they are good at some things but would never be one God would choose for anything significant here on earth. This leads back to the question: why am I here? Who am I? Where do I fit in?
This parable, which Jesus clearly said is what the Kingdom is like, says the servants rounded up the good and bad people. Bad here means evil, wicked, slothful, malicious. It doesn’t matter in what state you were when God called you; you qualify to be chosen. We have all sinned, gone our selfish way, and fallen short of the glory of God. But the loving Father sent His Son to restore us to our former glory with Him.
Many are called to come to repentance. Few are chosen for the rendering of service to God. We are called, but what we do with what we are given determines if we are chosen. God desires that every person be chosen. Yes, that means you. It doesn’t matter where you came from, only where you are going.
Not only is it God’s desire that we be chosen, but it is in that place of positioning ourselves to be chosen that we discover why we are here, who we are, and how we fit in.
Salvation is free but being chosen is costly. That is why few are chosen. In Luke 14:27, Jesus said, “Whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.” Jesus is saying that to be His disciple and chosen requires us to lay down our selfish desires and follow Him. To follow Him, we have to be near Him. Have you ever tried to follow someone in a car? You get in traffic, or perhaps they get a little ahead of you, and before you know it, you can’t see them anymore. Following Jesus can get like that: we get busy with others or the cares of life, we neglect to spend time with Him for a few days, and before we know it, we have trouble sensing His nearness.
If you’ve read Genesis chapters one and two, you know we were created to rule through our relationship with God. Without our fellowship with God, our rulership will be off-kilter. The only way we can adequately live our lives in righteousness, peace, and joy, as the Bible talks about, is by spending time with God. Lack of relationship is why we have ideas that originate with ourselves and are empowered by self.
If you have ever wondered why you are here, I am about to tell you.
The reason you were created and the reason you are here is for fellowship with God. He does not want a robot who mindlessly follows the rules. He greatly desires our love and attention. God wanted your expression on earth in this time of history. You have a purpose far greater than the one you are currently living out. Do you want to live the chosen life of purpose?
Too often, Christians spend time trying to perfect their gifts and talents rather than trying to grow in their relationship with God. There is something God placed inside of you that only His presence can draw out. “And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the Kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:20-21
I hope you are getting this. Kingdom things are inside you, but they will only surface through your relationship with God. Only as we deny our selfish ways and take up His cross does what we’ve been longing for begin to emerge in our lives. This is available to every person. We must let go of our thinking and take hold of His Kingdom’s way of thinking.
We come to Christ at salvation before we have a relationship. This is right; we can’t have a relationship without salvation. But you cannot walk in your chosen destiny without a relationship with God. You will never know those Kingdom things inside of you without that relationship. But, you will feel the void. It may not be constant, but it will be there, the void of knowing there is something I am missing. Have you felt that? Perhaps you are feeling this now.
Too many people walk around without knowing who they are or why they are here. Christians should not be in that group. Who do you suppose knows who you are and why you are here? The Psalmist said in Psalm 139, “You formed my inmost being, You knit me together in my mother’s womb.” God put you together in your Mama’s womb, and He knows what He put inside you. And He would be delighted to share it with you. But you have to come close enough to hear. You have to be intentional about getting to know Him.
Now, for those who are thinking, I don’t want to be chosen. I don’t want to be in the limelight. That is not what I’m talking about here. I am talking about there is something you were created for that no one else has your exact flair to do. Working with Holy Spirit as you work for the Lord causes you to feel alive like nothing else. You won’t be jealous of others when you find your place because you will feel so alive being you. You won’t have time to complain about what others aren’t doing because you will be busy working with the Lord. You will have a purpose!
Mothers are supposed to nurture their children. But Fathers tell them who they are. There are some excellent fathers, but even good fathers often don’t know how to tell their children who they are. That’s why there are so many people who do not have a clue as to who they are. Our heavenly Father longs to tell us who we are, but because too many earthly fathers were not who they needed to be, people are afraid of the Father. This is by design from the enemy because he knows what many Christians do not—they will never be who God created them to be unless the Father awakens it in His presence.
Sometimes, people are afraid to hear what the Father says because they’ve been put down or abused. The Bible says that when God made man, He said what He created was very good. You can be sure that everything God placed inside you is very good. It will bring you joy. It will bring you peace. And it will bring righteousness. Who wouldn’t want that? Sadly, some don’t because the price is taking up their cross by letting go of their selfish ambitions to follow Christ, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life! That means we must go His way, obey His truth, and abide in His life. It is not an easy way, but it is the most wonderful way!
We are all born with gifts and talents. But buried within our spirit is our purpose, which we were created to accomplish. There’s only one way to unwrap that fully: by seeking God and allowing His Spirit to breathe on us. The more time we spend in God’s presence, the more we come to life and begin to look like His Son.
1 Corinthians 2:12-14 says, “What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.[a] 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.” This is the only way to understand what God has freely given us.
Acts 4:13 says, “When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and noted that these men had been with Jesus.” Can people tell we have been with Jesus? Peter and John were unschooled, uneducated, ordinary men, but the crowds noticed the boldness of their words and noted that they had been with Jesus. When you’ve been with Jesus, people will know. You will carry His fragrance with you. Some of you may feel uneducated, you may feel ordinary—I hope you are seeing—it doesn’t matter. Being with Jesus is what makes the difference.
We are used to the natural realm of our soul (mind, will, and emotions). But we were created for more. We will never be satisfied in this life focused on the things of our soul. We are spirit beings and are only fully alive when our spirit is alive. It is in our spirit that we are totally dependent on God.
There are some keys to being chosen and, in the process, learning who you are and why you are here. There are more keys, but these few will get you started. These are not in a particular order. Every key is essential, and all keys must be used together.
Key One Friendship with God
Friendship with God is paramount in knowing who we are and why we are here. Have you ever prayed, “God, I want to know you?” That’s probably the most essential prayer you can ever pray after salvation. A prayer list serves a purpose but will not cultivate a relationship with God. You can only have a relationship with someone you have conversations with. How do you get to know someone? The most effective way is to have conversations, ask questions, and spend time together. When trying to get to know God, ask questions and then ask more questions. Is there something you’ve always wondered about? Ask Him. Growing up, I always heard that you never question God. When I was 22, my Dad died from cancer. I had lots of questions but felt I couldn’t voice them. The Lord taught me I can ask Him anything I want to. He’s a good Father and wants us to learn about Him. I was not blaming God, but I deeply desired to understand. We won’t understand everything until eternity, but God wants us to have conversations that will lead to knowing Him on deeper levels.
The Israelites knew God’s deeds, but Moses knew His ways. We see through the Psalms that David also knew God’s ways. David and Moses spent time with God, learning His ways. The Israelites knew about God, but Moses knew God. We can read the Bible and know much about God, but knowing Him personally only comes through talking with Him. Have you ever asked God, Why am I here? What is your purpose for me? Who am I? Where do I fit in? Why not ask Him? I will give you something to save you some time—- when you find out your purpose and why you are here, you will have the answer to who you are and where you fit in.
Since Paul deemed this a good prayer to pray for the Ephesians, I believe it is also a good prayer for us today. “ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in His holy people,” Ephesians 1:18. Yes, Lord, enlighten our hearts!
Key Two Hunger
Hunger is guaranteed to get God’s attention. Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled. (Matthew 5:6) We have to relinquish the things we are hungering for and chasing after that have nothing to do with righteousness. Even religion can be in this category. Religion has many chores for you to do, but they are rigid and dull with no life. When we hunger after Jesus, we will be full of life. You get hungry for what you are used to. Hunger for the Lord has to be stirred up—by you. Fast things that take up time that would be better spent with the Lord.
People who desire to get healthy usually do three things—exercise, eat healthy, and drink lots of water. It’s hard at first because your body isn’t interested in that. But over time, most people find joy in the benefits of this healthy change. That’s how it is when we begin to pursue a relationship with God. Five minutes of worship can seem like an hour. But over time of seeking the Lord, we will say—Lord, our time went by way too quickly. When can I spend time with You again?
The more you hunger after God, the more your tastes will change— what you watch will change; it will become purified. What you listen to will change. You suddenly begin to notice those things aren’t good for you—they have no value; it’s like it was all junk food. We begin to deny ourselves those things that do not nourish our souls. This is taking up our cross to follow Him. He will not choose those who aren’t following Him.
Key Three Faith
With faith, we decide to believe God no matter what things look like or what we see or hear. There’s a difference between believing in God and believing God. Did you know Jesus told His disciples to have the faith of God? That seems impossible. But you know, God believes what He says and wants us to believe it, too. We have to let go of our self-consciousness and grab hold of God-confidence. When God tells you who you are, believe Him!! To think you cannot do what God says you can is to discount the power of His Spirit and the grace extended to you. I mentioned Moses and the Israelites earlier, the Israelites knew what God said, Moses believed what God said.
Key Four Obedience
Do what God says. He could call you to go somewhere you don’t want to, like He did Jonah. More likely, He will give you an assignment right where you are. He may nudge you to spend time with Him. He may want you to read your Bible more. He may want you to encourage someone. It could be as simple as friending someone in your sphere of influence who needs a friend. He could ask you to listen to someone talk when you really don’t have time. He may ask you to give a stranger a message for Him. Perhaps He desires to give you the grace to refrain from gossip, not participate in off-color joking, or just be quiet. He will explain the more significant things as we are faithful in the little things, to those who are willing and obedient (man without garment came but was not obedient). Often, people look for things to be busy with when God desires us to surrender our will to Him and allow His grace to empower us to live righteous, holy lives. We cannot do this without His grace which is made perfect in our weakness.
Key Five Find a Mentor
Being accountable to others is so vital. None of us were designed to be lone rangers. Your mentor needs to be one whose life bears good fruit. A good mentor understands these keys and lives them out daily. If everyone in your life agrees with you and never challenges you, it is doubtful you are growing. Surround yourself with people who will help you grow in your relationship with God.
Key Six Wait Quietly in God’s Presence
Simply take time to enjoy the Lord. This key is easy to miss because we get caught up in the doing. Waiting in God’s presence helps tie all the keys together. Practice being in His presence. Let His presence fill your inner being. (We’ve been practicing this on Wednesday nights.) But you don’t have to be at church; you can sit in His presence in your secret place of prayer. I will tell you, this takes discipline; your mind won’t like it but His presence brings such refreshing.
Why not take some time today and ask God to reveal your purpose and why you are here. These days are a monumental time in history. You were born for such a time as this! You may have been a surprise to your parents, but God was not surprised at all. He has always had a good plan for you. And His grace will empower you to live it out. It will be the most beautiful adventure.
What are you doing with what God placed within you?
A Prayer for You Today
Father, You are the most wonderful father! I am so thankful for You. In Your Son Jesus’ name, I take authority over every trauma, every harmful word, and every hurt that has been a stumbling block to the precious person reading this. Lord, loose these things from their soul and bind to them Your love, heavenly Father. May they know that You long to walk with them, talk with them, and tell them they are Your beloved. I know You have an incredible purpose for their life. I pray for grace for them to surrender their soul to You, Jesus. Holy Spirit, please fall on everyone who reads this prayer and release the anointing that breaks every yoke! I release Your holy fire to bring cleansing and purity for a life of righteousness, peace, and joy in being chosen to fulfill their destiny. In Jesus’ holy name, amen.
I invite you to take some time to just be with God and allow Him to reveal your purpose and why you are here. Don’t forget to write everything down that He reveals to you.
Coffee With the King 