Heart and Abilities – Part One

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

This last Sunday, Guest Pastor, Dr. Willie Nolte preached on the continuing Sermon series of “Making Your Mark for the Kingdom. Willie asked if we have ever been in a group or a meeting where everyone knows and is motivated about the subject, but you know nothing and do not know what’s going on. What if that was your life and you are living like that every day? God has a plan and purpose, how it unfolds in our life and how we are going to make a difference within our sphere of influence as we were designed and created to do. An Architectural Engineer designs uses form and the function (what is it going to be used for?). Likewise, God’s plan and purpose for each one of us has both form and function. We are God’s thoughtful and creative workmanship for a purpose. 

Psalm 139:14 “I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.”

God has a plan for us to make your mark in life and has given us a unique shape, form and function to fulfill that purpose. A common question of high school and college age young people is: “Why are I here?” and “What is my purpose?” Without the answer, many gravitate into the existential philosophy of “living for today”. But, knowing and getting to do what God designed and gifted us to do, allows us to use and take pleasure in what we are created for and talented at. This is how and why we are a shaped the way that we are. Creator God supernaturally gifted each of us, individual and uniquely, this side of glory for the work of the kingdom of Heaven. Yet, there is a distinct and holistic connection between all gifts used by the body of believers in the work of God. So, when we know or shape that God crafted us to be for the godly purposes of our life, we never need to be walking through life asking: “What am I doing here?”

Philippians 2:12b-13 “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

Our shape includes our spiritual gifts, our heart, our abilities, our personality and our experiences. When we do what God has shaped us to do, we enjoy it and we are good at it. The heart is defined as “the seat of the affections, the will and passions” and consists of our desire and interest that we are drawn to and gives us energy and zeal. Our heart sings when we see and enjoy our heart’s desires that motivate and fire us up because God wired us that way. It’s a known fact that passionate people address issues and get things done. So, why is it that we do not follow our heart sometimes? Dr. Nolte suggests that it could be the loss of hope in our life, feelings of fear, guilt, or rejection that product bitterness. These all are heavy stone of sin that weigh us down and we drag them around with us. They are arrows aimed at our heart, when we are wounded by life. It is well known that hope deferred make our heart sick. This is not God’s plan.  

Let's continue Dr. Nolte's message on our godly heart and abilities in the next post.

In Christ, Brian