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The Wise Seek Wisdom: The Journey to Worship Christ

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“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.” 1

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1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.”

. . .7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; 8 and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. (Matthew 2:1-2, 7-10)

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The wise men did not need Herod to prod them to follow the star in search of the Christ child. They had already determined in their hearts and minds that this was their path. They had traveled far and would not be deterred from seeking and worshipping Him who was prophesied.

The guide: A night light in the sky to lead them to the Light who would extinguish all night, all fear of darkness.

They had seen His star in the East.  Significantly, the east is the place of sunrise.  A new dawn for mankind was beginning in a birth that would change the world. The wise men came to worship this child who would grow and keep “increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52). As a young lad of twelve, He would be found “sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; 47 and all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers”  (Luke 2:46-47). As a grown man, He would teach in the synagogue; and the teachers would be awed by His learning: “Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to him, and such miracles as these performed by his hands?” (Mark 6:2)

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption… (I Corinthians 1:30)

The wise men sought the one who, they believed, had “been born king of the Jews.” They had traveled a great distance to find Him. “The star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was” (Matthew 27:9).  Although they did not understand His kingdom would not be of this earth, they were right to seek Him and worship Him, the embodiment of “wisdom from God.”  When we, likewise, choose to seek and worship the Lord, He will go before us, guide us, and lead us through the darkness, even if by a glimmer, until His full glory is revealed.

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (Hebrews 1:3)

And the wise still seek Him– not by a star, not by fate, not by destiny but by an earnest desire and need to find the Christ and worship Him.

1 Lisa Mantchev, Eyes Like Stars. www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/stars

(Sharon G. Tate blog 12/11/16) teacherforjesus.com Meditations on God’s Word

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God’s Timing: Always the Right Time for His Purpose

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 26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of his father David, 33 and He will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; His kingdom will never end.”

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.  (Luke 1:26-38)

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“How will this be?”  We, like Mary, may ask this question when our limited human understanding cannot comprehend God’s unlimited power. We are grounded by gravity on this earth and think in terms of the physical instead of the spiritual. Having a child as a virgin was inconceivable during Mary’s time. It would be a miracle. If this occurred today, however, many people would, more than likely, reason that it was a conception of scientific achievement, controlled by man, and not a miracle of God. The question in our time might be phrased in a different way: “How will this be done by scientific methods?”  

 1To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: 2 A time to be born, And a time to die…”  (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2)

Why that time period for “the holy one to be born (who) will be called the Son of God?”  It was God’s selected time for His purpose to be fulfilled. God’s perfect timing.  To the One who sees and foresees what we cannot, the child to be named Jesus was conceived and born at exactly the right time in the right place to the right person in human history.

Whatever plans God has for you and for me, we must trust as the right timing in the right place with purposeful planning through Godly intervention. Our response should be like Mary’s: “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.”

(Sharon G. Tate 12/04/16) teacherforjesus.com Meditations on God’s Word

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GIVING TO OTHERS: GIVING TO CHRIST

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40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of Mine, you did for Me.’ ”(Matthew 25:40)

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The window view was alive with people, coming and going, carrying bundles, flowers, gifts. She always placed her wheelchair close to the pane, so she could see the life passing by outside. The elderly woman kept a careful watch for someone she might know, someone who might be coming to visit her.

The people passing by outside the glass weren’t really strangers though, since she saw some of them regularly on their visits to friends or family. She almost knew them. Yet, they did not know her. Not one of them ever looked at her window. No one waved at her as she watched them. No one noticed as she sat there day after day, waiting. . .

The little red-haired boy was not supposed to toss the ball near the building. But being a boy, holding a ball, how could he not. The ball rolled under the window ledge where the old woman was watching. The boy ran after it, his mom calling for him to hurry. Searching under the bushes, he found the ball and was preparing to toss it again–when he looked up and saw the old woman staring at him through the window pane. She watched him intently, waiting for what she had wanted all along—acknowledgement that she was part of the life she saw passing daily by her window.

And it came from a little freckle-faced, red-haired boy with a ball. He met her gaze and smiled–not a little boyish grin, but a big, broad smile—focused directly at her. She caught the smile in her eyes, holding it there, smiling back, as he ran toward his mother who reached for his open hand- which was not immediately given. Instead, turning back to the woman in the window, who was still watching him, he waved. And she lifted a waiting hand to wave back.

Others in the walkway had observed the little boy chasing after the ball. Following the scene being played out, they now saw the old woman in the window. They could not pass by again without remembering that she was there, watching and waiting. Would they smile? Would they wave? Or would they continue to pass on by as they had always done before?

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34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ ”

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ ”(Matthew 25:34-40)

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Hear the silence that speaks behind windows or open doors. See the waiting and watching of those in need.  Respond with action, for whatever we do for one of these, we do for Christ.

(Sharon G. Tate 11/27/16 blog) teacherforjesus.com Meditations on God’s Word

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“Thanks” giving to God

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Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise.

Give thanks to Him; bless His name. (Psalm 100:4)

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But not today, some might say.  “After all, tomorrow is another day!” 1 This famous line, uttered by Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind, is one that is, often, used or paraphrased when we wish to procrastinate or just believe in tomorrow to the extent that there will always be another day, waiting– for us to complete what we haven’t completed, to do what we should have already done, and/or to say what we should have already said.

Expressing gratitude might be placed in the category of a “tomorrow” delay to friends, family, colleagues, or peers. We may believe this is all right, because we intend to do this, just not today. But showing appreciation should not be on hold for “another day.” Today is the day to say, “Thank you.” How different the world might be if today was always the day for gratitude.

Our thankfulness to God should be communicated to Him daily, hourly, every minute, every second and never be withheld for another time. We can show THANKSGIVING and PRAISE to God every day by:

T: Trusting in His faithfulness to us.

H: Honoring Him by the way we live.

A: Asking for His forgiveness when we fall short, wanting to be faithful in His eyes.

N: Needing Him in all aspects of our life and demonstrating this to Him.

K: Knowing His Word through personal study, reflection, and obedience.

S: Singing praises to His Name in honor and gratitude.

G: Giving generously to others from our hearts as He gave sacrificially to us.

I: Inquiring deeper in personal prayer with Him to understand His ways and His Word.

V: Voicing His truth to others to help bring them to the salvation we have in Him.

I: Immersing ourselves in His Word to know how to live more like Christ.

N: Nonconforming to the world around us that we may obey and follow only Him.

G: Going through life with God in all we say, do, think, and decide.

The gratitude we should express to God is related to us in scripture: ” Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.”(Hebrews 12:28-29)

Psalm 28:7 -The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him.

Psalm 69:30 – I will praise the name of God with song, and shall magnify Him with thanksgiving.

Colossians 2:6-7 – Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.

Psalm 34:1 – I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

1 Thessalonians 5:18- In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Let us always remember to give thanks to God every today. Tomorrow is not promised.

This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)

                                                    And we will offer up our thanksgiving to Him.

1Mitchell, Margaret.  Gone with the Wind. http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes

(Sharon G. Tate blog 11/20/16)   teacherforjesus.com  Meditations on God’s Word

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OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS CHILDREN OF GOD: FACES OF POVERTY AND HUNGER WANTING MORE

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“For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, Now I will arise,” says the Lord; “I will set him in the safety for which he yearns.” (Psalm 12:5)

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** “Child as he was, he was desperate with hunger, and reckless with misery. He rose from the table; and advancing to the master, basin and spoon in hand, said, somewhat alarmed at his own temerity: ‘Please, sir, I want some more.’ ” 1 (Oliver Twist)

** “Miss Caroline began the day by reading us a story about cats. The cats had long conversations with one another; they wore cunning little clothes and lived in a warm house beneath a kitchen stove. By the time Mrs. Cat called the drugstore for an order of chocolate malted mice the class was wriggling like a bucketful of catawba worms. Miss Caroline seemed unaware that the ragged, denim-shirted and floursack-skirted first grade, most of whom had chopped cotton and fed hogs from the time they were able to walk, were immune to imaginative literature. Miss Caroline came to the end of the story and said, ‘Oh, my, wasn’t that nice?’ ” 2 (To Kill a Mockingbird)

** “The master was a fat, healthy man; but he turned very pale. He gazed in stupefied astonishment on the small rebel for some seconds, and then clung for support to the copper. The assistants were paralyzed with wonder; the boys with fear. ‘What!’ said the master at length, in a faint voice.   ‘Please, sir,’ replied Oliver, ‘I want some more.’ The master aimed a blow at Oliver’s head with the ladle; pinioned him in his arm; and shrieked aloud for the beadle.”¹ (Oliver Twist)

** “While Walter piled food on his plate, he and Atticus talked together like two men, to the wonderment of Jem and me. Atticus was expounding upon farm problems when Walter interrupted to ask if there was any molasses in the house. Atticus summoned Calpurnia, who returned bearing the syrup pitcher. She stood waiting for Walter to help himself. Walter poured syrup on his vegetables and meat with a generous hand. He would probably have poured it into his milk glass had I not asked what the sam hill he was doing. The silver saucer clattered when he replaced the pitcher, and he quickly put his hands in his lap. Then he ducked his head.” 3   (To Kill a Mockingbird)

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The face of poverty and hunger: Walter Cunningham, the young boy who heaps his plate with food and pours syrup, a sweet delicacy, over every portion, and then feels shame, dropping his head, when a young girl questions his unacceptable behavior. A boy in age, adult in knowledge, Walter speaks to the girl’s father with a man’s understanding of farm problems. The children in Miss Caroline’s class, including Walter, are unable to connect with the imaginative cat story read to them by their teacher. Their life is one of day-to-day survival, working like adults, steeped in reality.

The face of the orphan: The young lad Oliver Twist, who dares to ask for more. For this bold act, he is publicly punished and abused in front of his peers. The adults are astonished, awed, and outraged at such a request. Reality strikes back. There will be no more food. But there will be more punitive consequences for asking.

We read the stories and imagine the faces, we see the pictures of poverty, and we watch the suffering of children. Do we close the book and not remember? Do we watch the television requests for aid and turn the channel? Do we hear the news and think, “This is not my problem.”

Our God is “A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows,  Is God in His holy habitation.” (Psalm 68:5) 

“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27)

 This is our problem. They are our responsibility. The faces of children—poor, hungry, and abused—must be remembered. And we must give them MORE.

1 Oliver Twist/charlesdickenspage.com/twist 

2 To Kill a Mockingbird/Chapter 2 https://docs.google.co

³To Kill a Mockingbird/Chapter 3. https://docs.google.com

(Sharon G. Tate blog 11/13/16) teacherforjesus.com Meditations on God’s Word

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Two Mites: Submission. Sacrifice. Trust. Faith.

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41Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.43 Calling his disciples to Him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:41-44

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    Are you there in your mind, picturing this scene, watching it play out,

possibly like this?

A poor widow enters the crowd, remaining alone.  Her garments clean but faded, restitched and resewn.   Head bowed and back bent, moving slowly through the crowd.  Separate from those with heads proudly raised, arrayed in the finest apparel.  Leaning on a walking stick, looking to the ground, carefully watching her steps, she approaches the temple treasury.

Without display, she holds two coins in her calloused, wrinkled hands.  Not holding back, not gripping tightly with difficult release, but freely letting go of all she has to give. She places the coins in the temple treasury, a decision made before this moment, a commitment of faith. It is all she has, a few cents to offer. Head bowed, she moves slowly away, drifting through the crowds, leaving as she came, alone.

Someone else is watching. His eyes see all. The Teacher instructs His students: Out of poverty- the point we all enter His presence. The wealth we think we leave in the treasury-never ours. The faith to place everything we have in His hands-to freely give.  A remonstrance to those who proudly give of “their wealth”– while allowing a widow to depart alone to a life of hardship. Did they understand?

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 Where are we in this scene? Are we among the proud givers?  Are we hidden in the crowd, merely bystanders, giving nothing to the treasury or the widow?  Are we near the disciples, whom Jesus must call to Him? Or are we close to Jesus, watching what He sees and hearing what He hears?  Are we listening to His Words? Do we understand?

 Two mites, coins with very low value.

The poor widow of low social status.

Submission.   Sacrifice.   Trust.   Faith.

A simple story of profound significance.

Would we watch her walk away?

Could we give the two mites so freely-

 If this was all we had?

(Sharon G. Tate blog 11/06/16)  teacherforjesus.com  Meditations on God’s Word

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“This World Is Not My Home”

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For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.  (Hebrews 13:14)

Places you have called “home.” How many have you had in your life thus far? My journey began in Battle Creek, MI, where I was born. My first home was in Union City, MI, the second one in Millington, MI. The 3rd-4th homes were in Saginaw, MI until I was 20. The 5th-6th moves were at Rochester, MI; the 7th-8th moves to places in Traverse City, MI; the 9th move to Big Rapids, MI; the 10th move back to Saginaw briefly; the 11th-12th  moves to housing in Louisiana; the  13th-16th moves to residences in Texas; the 17th  move back to Saginaw; the  18th-19th  moves in Cadillac, MI. And here is the place I have called “home” the past twenty-seven years.

Yet, none of these places were ever home. They were my parents’ homes, apartments, rentals, campus housing, Army housing, more rentals, a bedroom, another rental house, and now a condo. Temporary. Transitory. Transitional. Temporal. Terminable. And I was/am just the transient wanderer waiting for transport to my real home. There is only one place that is truly home for those who believe in the promises of Christ.

 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14: 1-3)

Do you long for this eternal home, our true home?  Enduring. Perpetual. Eternal.  Ever-Lasting. Permanent.

Revelations 21:4-7  4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.

Revelations 22:3-7 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.6 The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.” 7 “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”

 Revelations 22:8-9 8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. 9 But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!”

Let us continue to worship God in this transitional world until we can meet Him in our true home and bow down in the very presence of our Lord and our God. And find permanence with Him.

This world is not our home.

(Sharon G. Tate blog 10/30/16)  teacherforjesus.com  Meditations on God’s Word

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“Word(s) Fitly Spoken” with Grace and Wisdom from God

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“Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given.”  (New International Version of Proverbs 25:11)

The language of the citizenry in a country is, often, a mirror of the culture and civilization of that society.  What words are said publicly- and regularly -now that were not accepted just a few years ago? Language changes with time and cultural acceptance.  Do our words today give us this beautiful image as depicted in Proverbs 25:11?

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.” (Revised Standard Version of Proverbs 25:11)

When we think of the word choices used in our society today and what may be regarded as “fit” for the occasion, what “word” do we visualize in our minds or “hear” in our thoughts? Does it come from a television character, a news moderator, a commercial, a celebrity, our next-door neighbor, a colleague, a spouse, our best friend, a politician? Does the word fit the image described in Proverbs 25:11?

“The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry…” (The Message translation for Proverbs 25:11)

Custom-made.  Just for you. Just for me.  We can go online and find words to copy and paste that might seem like the right words for the occasion. But they are not custom-made just for you and just for me. Only God can give us THE right word at THE right moment, custom-made.

1) Luke 21:15 “For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.” 

2) Psalm 141:3 “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.”

3) 2 Timothy 2:14-15 “ 14 Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. “

4) I Peter 4: 10-11 “10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. “

5) Colossians 4:6 “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

Our words speak much about us– as a people, as a society, as a culture. Our words speak much about us-as individuals. Our words speak much about us- to our children and our grandchildren. Our words speak much about us—to all those with whom we engage in conversation, discussion, or debate. Where do we turn to find the words we should speak? Only God can give us “a word fitly spoken” that evokes an image of “apples of gold in a setting of silver.”

Let us turn to the Creator of everything to know what to say and how to say it with thought, with grace, with wisdom, and as “one who speaks the very words of God.”

(Sharon G. Tate blog  10/23/16)  teacherforjesus.com  Meditations on God’s Word

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BLESSED ASSURANCE IN CHRIST

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It times of distress, where do we go for help?

 “In Sorrow I Wandered,

Does Jesus Care?

Whispering Hope,

Heaven Came Down,

In Loving Kindness Jesus Came,

He Touched Me.

I Lay My Sins On Jesus,

He Knows Just What I Need,

A Shelter In The Time Of Storm,

God Is My Refuge.

Into The Heart Of Jesus,

I Know Whom I Have Believed,

Glory To His Name,

I Will Sing Of My Redeemer,

I Will Sing The Wondrous Story,

A Wonderful Savior,

Nearer Still Nearer,

I Know That My Redeemer Lives.

It Is No Secret,

In The Cross Of Christ I Glory,

Washed In the Blood,

Saved, Saved!

Victory in Jesus,

How Firm A Foundation,

Rock Of Ages,

Jesus Is Mine.

Love Lifted Me,

No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus,

Safe In The Arms Of Jesus,

He Whispers Sweet Peace To Me,

Peace, Perfect Peace,

There Is A Place Of Quiet Rest,

There’s A Rainbow In The Cloud,

It Is Well With My Soul,

Thank You, Lord.”

The lyrics of songs contain assuring words. Let us not only sing the notes but the words with blessed assurance that Jesus has been, is, and always shall be there for us as our Savior and Lord.

(Sharon G. Tate 10/16/16)  teacherforjesus.com  Meditations on God’s Word

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Seeking the Lord’s Direction

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In their hearts humans plan their course,  but the Lord establishes their steps.      Proverbs 16:9

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Assignment: IF you could have three wishes, what would they be?

Answer: To never be born. To never be born. To never be born.

This wasn’t the response I ever expected to receive from any of my students. It was a question included within a diagnostic survey, which I used at the very beginning of the course to help me better understand my students and where they were coming from in life to the point they entered my classroom. The girl was a freshman, around age fourteen. To not want life—ever. What prompted her to write this three times for her three wishes?

Reading that response was like a Frank Capra moment with George Bailey on the bridge ready to jump and the angel Clarence showing up, rather clumsily, to save him as George declares he wishes he had never been born. And I was a new teacher—with no wings. Do I jump into this, like Clarence, and take the dive to get involved-or just pass it on to the counselor?

It is a choice we make in our lives with the people we encounter. Involvement or disengagement, empathy or apathy, personal or impersonal–or none? Before the choice is made, we should ask ourselves the wristband question: “What would Jesus do?”

When the Lord saw an opportunity to reach a soul, He engaged: with the Samaritan woman at the well, the crippled beggar at the pool, tax collectors, James and John, lepers, the adulterous woman, a rich young ruler, the Pharisees, religious leaders at the temple as a youth, and more and more throughout His life here on earth. Even when alone, He engaged with God.

We have become a society of lesser engagement. We may have 800+ Facebook friends, but how do we really classify 95% of the encounters on a scale of true involvement? We even have a growing constituency called “None” in this country who are not particularly associated with any religious group and may not even believe in God.

If we are here, God has a purpose for each and every one of us:

Acts 26:15-18. God’s purpose for the Apostle Paul: 15 “And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand upon your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you to serve and bear witness to the things in which you have seen Me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 delivering you from the people and from the Gentiles—to whom I send you 18 to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ ”

John 15:16 –“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give it to you.”

Purposeful engagement. It is what the Lord modeled for us-and what he expects of us. So, yes, I jumped and helped this girl who had no purpose to find one by letting her know I cared, I was praying for her, and I was there for her. I had her for three years in English 9-11 and followed her through her senior year. She got through school. She endured more struggles regarding the answer to those three wishes, but the last time I saw her, she was pushing a shopping cart with two little children inside, beaming that she was happily married. God had a different plan for her than those three wishes she wrote down that day.

  In their hearts humans plan their course,  but the Lord establishes their steps.      Proverbs 16:9

And we may be the ones God uses to encourage those moves with our purposeful engagement in others’ lives.

(Sharon G. Tate 10/09/16 blog) teacherforjesus.com  Meditations on God’s Word