Threads in the Master's Tapestry

An event I was planning as part of the marketplace ministry work with which I am involved looked like it had fallen through. The venue of first choice had withdrawn its support. The event was for a good purpose and would promote the ministry in which I serve. The circumstances for the event falling through as planned made no sense at all to me. After prayer and consultation with trusted brethren it became apparent that it was likely in “God’s greater plan” that the event not go as I had anticipated. With that spirit in control, an alternative arrangement (which had been right under my nose all along) quickly presented itself in the form of a modest Church plant located in the heart of Providence, RI. At first glance, the new venue did not align AT ALL with my original personal vision concept for the event. But in prayer my mind was opened to the blessed opportunity there was to promote this dearly needed urban ministry through my ministry event. I am experiencing greater joy now knowing that this new venue will be brought before the eyes of the broad Christian business community than had the event been solely for the purpose I had originally intended. I am seeing beyond my own ministry focus.

I need to be reminded that every life in Christ is a ministry and that my life and my ministry is but one thread being woven by my Creator into His master tapestry.

How often I have prayed to know God’s will for my life, to know what He wants and what I am supposed to do. From time to time I have paused to look around to see where He is at work and apply myself there – to join in with His work already underway with the talents and gifts He has so skillfully, carefully and unique built into the weaving of me -  to yield my thread and lend it to His tapestry. But how often have I focused on my thread alone, as if it alone was God’s singular purpose - exclusive and disconnected from everything else.

Along the narrow way we can often become narrow-minded and myopic about our thread, failing to see that it must often yield to the interweaving of other threads that are meant to work with our own. Sometimes our thread is interrupted so another may pass above or below or alongside to build up, tamp down or straighten out our own in conformity to His plan for the greater Body of which it is a part.

A thread not interwoven with others is easily snagged and has no integrity as a fabric unto itself. It is only strong when mingled with the others. The Bible speaks of a thread of many cords not being easily broken and this holds true for our thread in the tapestry of God’s plan.

Focusing alone on our thread is a self-centered activity that will lead to loneliness, depression, self-pity, separation from the fabric and isolation – a frayed end. Our adversary effectively plucks our thread from the loom of God’s purpose when we are fooled into believing that the path of our thread is important unto itself and proceeds by our will and vision alone. We believe the lie and take our thread from the Weaver’s hand. What a masterfully subtle deceit!

We wind up on our knees wondering why it isn’t working out when focused so on our one thread. We ask silly questions like, “What is Your will God?” when what we really mean is “Why is Your will not aligning with mine?” We neglect to see all the other threads intertwined about us binding and strengthening us wonderfully in the fabric of His great plan. In our self-absorbed state we, like Job 7:6 wallow in the futility of our single thread; “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope.”  Rather, we should be mindful of the encouragement in 1Peter 2:5; “you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” Living stones, living threads, a wall, a house, a body, the fabric of a saving work.

This portion from a recent daily reading grabbed me; “A complete life is the life of a child. When I am fully conscious of my awareness of Christ, there is something wrong. It is the sick person who really knows what health is. A child of God is not aware of the will of God because he is the will of God. When we have deviated even slightly from the will of God, we begin to ask, “Lord, what is your will?” A child of God never prays to be made aware of the fact that God answers prayer, because he is so restfully certain that God always answers prayer.” (My Utmost For His Highest, August 20th ~ Oswald Chambers ©1935, Barbour Publishing.)

That my thread would be guided easily by His hand and that my joy would come from seeing my thread intertwining with the thread of others for His purpose. This is at the root of Christian love and what it is to love one another as Jesus loves us.

Some day I will be allowed to stand back away from the tapestry and behold it for its fullness and glory (1 Corinthians 13:12 (NKJV) promises that “…for now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.”).

Blessings,

Bill