What Is God Asking You To Do?

Reading God’s Word with Purpose

Ephesians 3: 7-8

“I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ,”(NIV‬‬)

What spoke to me?
I think this stood out to me because I have been working on the process of getting my first book published and I totally have no idea what I am doing! I am so computer and technologically illiterate that as Kim talked with the girl from the printing company, I had no idea what in the world she was telling us to do. I just sat there thinking, “God, you sure do have a great sense of humor…to tell me of all people to write a book! I can’t even turn on a computer much less know how to use one!” I think that’s why the first verse of this scripture passage really spoke to me. The only reason I am able to teach God’s word or write a book is because of the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. I didn’t go to college…I have had no training to teach me how to write, but God decided this would be my ministry for him - to help people understand His word and make it relevant in their lives - so He gave me His “grace” - which in this passage means: His favor; His excessive kindness and unfair partiality; His preferential treatment…so I would have the ability to do what He has called me to do with my life.

How will this truth change the way I live my life?
God decided before I was born what spiritual gifts He would give me and what purpose He had for my life. As I look back though, I realize that each time God has impressed on me what ministry He wanted me to do and gave me opportunity to do it, I have initially not co-operated with His plan and a few times even laughed at what He was asking me to do. I remember when He first impressed on me He wanted me to put my “Reading God’s Word with Purpose” on Facebook, I just laughed and then began to tell Him all the reasons I could not possibly do that…. “You know I don’t know how to do anything on a computer God”…” I have tried to do things on the computer in the past and I just can’t learn how to do all that stuff.… I know there are other people who are so great on the computer who could do a much better job at this than I can.”….As I think about all this, it reminds me of the scripture passage in Exodus where God told Moses he was sending him to Pharaoh to bring his people the Israelites out of Egypt. Just like me, Moses began to argue with God and give Him all these reasons why he couldn’t do what God was asking him to do. Moses says, “Who am I to go to Pharaoh?” In other words, “God I am a nobody…why would you ask me to do this?” There are other people who could do a much better job than I will be able to do for you.”…And God’s response to Moses was simply, “I will be with you.” In essence, that is also exactly what I was saying to God, and His response back to me, with every reason I gave Him to prove that He had the wrong person for this job was, “Nina, I will be with you.”….and He has! Kim gifted me with an iPad and worked with me until I could learn what to do and I have been putting my Reading God’s Word with Purpose on Facebook for years now and my first book will prayerfully be out in a few months! That is why the second verse in this scripture passage stood out to me, “Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given to me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ.”(NIV) I still feel I am the last person God should have chosen to do the things He has given me to do, but He chose me. And He has been with me, every step of the way, giving me exactly what I needed to do His will.

My Prayer
Thank you God for loving me and entrusting me with this gift of grace to be able to write and teach others about you and your word. May I be faithful to use this gift in any way you ask me to, in order to bring glory and honor to your name. Amen