Appointed

Do you feel appointed?  Here for a reason and a purpose?  And, do you wonder why grasping that purpose and reason seems both fleeting and just out of reach?

I think we are a society, maybe a world, that is sleep-walking through time.  We need direction ... we need focus ... and we need God!  The Apostle Paul knew this, and he saw this attitude manifested in his world in 51AD.  He wrote to the church in Thessalonica about several topics, including "the day of the Lord."  And just like today, his letter was misunderstood.  Where Paul was telling the people about living out Jesus' vision of life in a world that seemed to be crumbling around them, people got all excited about placing their focus on end times  (after all, it is easier to dream about the days to come than it is to live in the present struggle of life).  But let's read 1 Thessalonians, Chapter 5, a little closer.  For with Paul, remember his writings are arguments and apologetics that end in conclusions.  What did Paul conclude here?

"He died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.  Therefore, encourage one another and build each other us, just as you are doing (1 Thessalonians 5:10-11)!"  Whatever we are doing and whatever life sends our way, we live in Christ!  We are people of light and hope.  I preached Sunday evening in Montgomery that we are the people that bring God's light into a world that sells darkness.  We give away light while Satan sells darkness.  We offer living water while Satan offers intoxicating delusions.  Paul says, "God did not appoint us to suffer wrath, but to receive salvation through Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:9)."  We offer the hope of salvation through faith in Jesus, while Satan offers the illusion of pleasure through the chains of distraction, addiction and being drunk (Paul's words) on falseness.

Here is my last observation.  Paul uses the words ... "together with Him."  My question for this week is ... "What takes you/me away from being together with Jesus?"  For He is found with His bride, the Church.  He is found with the poor and the powerless.  Wesley said He is found in the Sacraments, fellowship with other Christians, accountability with other Christians and encouraging one another, building something strong that can withstand "the day of the Lord."  If (as we sing) He Is Worthy, He is worthy of our time, energy, investment, giving, presence and witness.  And you are appointed to be that light that will bring Christ into every dark place.