“Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Lk9.23 NKJV
It is one thing to say that God has a plan for our lives and another to know what that plan is. Beyond the common benefits given to all who come to Christ, does God have a specific plan for each of us? I think He does. Even a cursory reading of the Scriptures would illustrate this. How can we know what that plan is? When students ask this question, I generally tell them to simply ask God to make His plan clear to them, but I also encourage them to look at what God has put in their hand. If God gives you a shovel , more than likely, He wants you to dig. The talents and possessions entrusted to us would logically reflect His intentions for us. But God's intentions are not limited only to our talents. God put a cross in Christ’s hands. And, in this instance it was not His talent but His obedient spirit, which qualified Him for the job. By taking up His cross, Christ fulfilled His own unique purpose. When Jesus encourages us to take up our cross, he may very well be telling us to find and stay focused on our own unique purpose. Each of us should consider what God has put in our hand. The people we meet, the place where we live, events, vocations, talents and possessions are all providences, provisions if you will, that equip and thus reveal His unique purpose for each of His children. Consider what God has put in your hand. Take it up daily.
We can be sure not only that God has a specific plan for our lives but in order for us to fulfill it we will probably have to deny ourselves other plans we may wish to pursue. In any case, our greatest happiness is promised in God’s purposes. What is my cross? It is whatever task the King has assigned to His subject in the advancement of His Kingdom. His cross, as well as my own, define my purpose. 4/12/07 ts
