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first choice had withdrawn its support.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
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