Fear Not

The Puzzle Pieces of The Purpose Tree

Chapter 45

December 21

1 Chronicles 28:20

David also said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished."

____________________________________
Preface

Peter describes the church as a living house, each person of faith a brick in its construction. He wrote, "As you come to [Jesus], the living Stone...you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house..." (1 Peter 2:4). Peter continued, "And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit" (2:22).

Paul describes the church as a body, and each person, with their own unique gifts and functions, are a part of that body. He wrote, "From [Christ] the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work" (Ephesians 4:16). "Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ." And then again, "...the body is not made up of one part but of many."

Paul teaches how each and every part is equally important, no one part being more important than any other part. He makes the point that if one part is hurt, the whole body suffers.

Ever stub your toe?

And when a person rejoices, they feel that rejoice resound throughout their whole body.

Ever experience that first big win?

When we do something to hurt someone else, it's no different than stubbing our toe. And when we help someone accomplish a big goal, the joy is shared between us as a whole, as a team.

Paul also teaches that each part serves its specific and perfect function. We, being united into one body by faith, have each been made and called to serve a specific purpose. "I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received" (Ephesians 4:1).

Imagine if one of your arms decided to do its own thing, independent of what it's supposed to do. Say it has an identity crisis, deciding to be something that its not, like a leg. Imagine how difficult that arm would make life for the body.

When we listen to and follow that thing that brings us the most joy within, and it's something that inspires, helps or contributes to the world in some meaningful, lasting way, we're the arm being an arm. By being what we're supposed to be, we automatically work in sync with the other parts.

Also, living one's calling leads to passion.

First, the words "calling" and "passion" are words of faith. When we hear someone using these terms, we immediately realize that they've shifted from F2F.

People who've not yet made the shift, who're still bound by fear, find the concepts of "calling" and "passion" painful to hear. It's the type of conversational points from which they cringe. But the thing is, these words are the truth that disenchants the arm's illusion that it's a leg. It reminds them that they're not being who they know in their secret heart of hearts who they really want to be.

But to be true to themselves would mean stepping outside of the comfort zone they've created for themselves. The idea just seems like it'll be too much work. It annoys and angers them.

The truth is ego just hates change. And it will use the same tactics it's been using since the dawn of Man to manipulate, lie, ridicule, scoff or laugh at anything, everything to just avoid the weight of responsibility and to keep everything the same.