He Was At Your Beginning

“He was with God in the beginning.” — John 1:2 (CSB)

What is the earliest memory you have? I can actually vaguely remember my third birthday. Although it's foggy, it's as far back as my memories go. There is one memory that may be even older than that, but I don't know if it's real. If that's the case, then time, for me, begins at three years old. What's interesting to me is that all of human history existed before that! Time was already moving forward, and I simply dropped right into it. But Jesus Christ, John says, was before time was.

John says that He, the Living Word, was always with God even before there was a beginning, because He was already there before time began! That's a wild concept to consider: the eternal God, always present even before time existed. Before you and I had consciousness, Jesus was. Which tells us that He was at my beginning, and He was at your beginning. John says in verse 3, “All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created.”

That is an incredible statement by John, and also a reassuring one for me. He had a hand not only in creation but in my creation and yours! If you are reading this, it means God desired for your life to exist. If He did not want you to exist, you wouldn't. This brings us to a deep revelation: your life is not an accident. It was not an "oops." It was by design, His design. He is the Author of life and purposed for you and me to live. The great revelation is this: your life then has meaning. You were destined by God to live and to walk in the destiny He has for your life. Our job is to seek Him and discover what that purpose is.

Let me ask you a question: Have you asked the Lord God, Creator of heaven and earth and everything in them, what your purpose is? That's a weighty question, but it's also a wonderful one. Jeremiah 29:11–12 gives us one of God's great declarations: “For I know the plans I have for you” this is the LORD's declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. You will call to me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”

God is giving you an invitation today to ask Him, What are Your plans for me? What is Your will for my life? God says that when we come to Him with those questions, He will listen to us.

So go ahead and ask Him. Let's see what He says!

Agape,
Frank

Not A Slave, A Witness!

Slaves are to submit to their masters in everything, and to be well-pleasing, not talking back or stealing, but demonstrating utter faithfulness, so that they may adorn the teaching of God our Savior in everything. Titus 2:9-10 csb

God never condoned slavery; it was part of man's fallen world. In fact, nearly one-fourth of the ancient Roman population lived as slaves. For many, the alternatives were slavery or poverty and begging. While some slaves were treated relatively well, they were still considered property. When Christ came into the world and gave His Holy Spirit to believers, He called them to live in a manner worthy of God and to be faithful witnesses for Him. This meant that even those who were slaves were to conduct themselves in a way that honored the Lord. Their goal was not merely to endure difficult circumstances, but to display the transforming power of the gospel and, prayerfully, win their masters to Christ.

Today, we do not have slavery in the same sense, but most of us are employees. We can apply the same principle found in Titus. The Lord Jesus desires that His people be excellent workers, faithful, trustworthy, and respectful in their workplaces. We are called to be a witness to those with whom we spend eight or more hours each day. This should challenge us to view our workplace as a mission field. Not everyone is called to move overseas to serve God, but every Christian is called to serve Him right where they are, in the office, the shop, the classroom, or wherever they work. Let us adorn the gospel we hear week after week by living it out in our daily work, so that in everything the Lord Jesus may be honored and glorified.

Agape,
Frank