"A Piece of the Puzzle"

We are only "a piece" of God's puzzle

(Life is not about me)

   This past June at V.B.S., I was the memory verse guy. Thanks to my wife, I looked pretty good. Aside from many other creative ways she helped me to teach the Bible verses to kids of all ages, was this puzzle for the two older classes. The puzzle was roughly the size of 4’x7’. Not very many pieces (11), but obviously every piece is going to be needed in order to complete the verse.

   Putting puzzles together are fun. Especially when you have a group of 4^th and 5^th graders working together, each holding their own piece, trying to see how their unique part fits.

   This makes me think about life. We (including me) typically want to look at life and at how it relates to me. What part are we playing, and what difference are we making. Why God is doing what he is doing as it relates to Josh.

   Reality check Josh, life is not about you. Yes, you have a part to play, but there is more going on than what impacts you.

   Romans 8:28-29 talks about how “we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” and God’s goal is to make us like His Son Jesus. I’ve always looked at how this verse relates to me. I love God, and God is working in my life in specific ways to make me like Jesus. It’s important to remember that, but it’s also important to note that God is allowing, doing, and working “in all things” out for more than just Josh.  God is all powerful. He is capable of using that situation multiple ways. For example: God can use the recent flooding in Texas to draw the sinner to himself because he recognizes how quickly life can be snuffed out, to remind the doubter how much power and control He really has, and even to reminding others of his goodness at the same time by keeping them or their loved ones safe through the whole ordeal. The question is, how am I going to respond to the situation as it relates to me. The keys are, to remember God is in control, He has a game-plan that includes more than just me, and to trust God to do what he knows is best in my life.

Life is not about me,

                                                                                                                                Pastor Josh McLachlan