Sunday, June 5, 2011

Intended to Soar

Intended to Soar
June 6, 2011
Revelation 4:11 "'You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being'"

My children took a recent field trip to the local zoo and had so much to tell me when I arrived home from work. They told me about seeing the polar bear, the elephants, and the flamingos. They told me about how much fun it was to ride the tram and the merry-go-round. They told me about everything they learned and wanted to further explore through books at the library. What a great educational opportunity my children experienced that day! But then they told me about a disappointment they had while discovering the Lord's animal kingdom through the zoo. They were concerned for a bird that looked very sad and dejected. Upon further investigation, I came to understand that the bird was actually Africa's largest bird of prey, though my children didn't get to see how big it really was. In fact, the bird held its back to the visitors that day and was kept in an enclosure so small that it could not fly. It couldn't even spread it wings, which would have been nine to ten feet wide.

Zoos can be a fantastic way for visitors and young minds to explore the Lord's creation, but it certainly was disappointing for this particular bird. This bird was intended to soar. It was designed by the Lord Almighty to fly high above the tree tops in Africa as an important part of the food chain. But sadly, this bird will never fulfill what it was designed to do by the Creator of the Universe. This bird will not get to experience the one thing for which it was intended. It had a right to be dejected, keeping its back towards the visitors that day. Being held captive, it will never fulfill its intended purpose of bringing glory and honor to the Lord. Though I have never been held in a cage with my wings clipped, I do understand what it feels like to live life not being allowed to do what the Lord intended. Maybe you have experienced this as well; maybe you feel as if there is some greater purpose for your life than you can see right now in your situation.

For some of you it is beyond your control, as circumstances have caged you, keeping you from spreading your wings. For others it might be that you have chosen not to live the life God intended for you. It is also possible you don't even know what you should be doing. In any case, you SHOULD be functioning with the gifts and talents the Lord has blessed you with and doing so for His glory. That is why you were created, to bring glory and honor to Him. When you function with your natural talents and do so in a manner that is pleasing to Him, you will find all the fulfillment in the world, as this is your true act of worship to your Creator.

The Lord designed you, specifically you, with your exact talents, abilities, strengths, and gifts. You were intended for a reason and have an important contribution to make with all the talents the Lord has given you. It is your responsibility to use those for Him and for His purposes. This brings Him such tremendous joy, to see you when you are flying high above the tree tops doing what you were created to do. You were intended for greatness, to do wonderful things on display before an audience of ONE. You were intended to soar.

Don't take my word for it; look it up: Gen 1:31, Matt 3:10, Luke 19:11-26, Luke 19:40, Romans 11:29, I Cor 12, Col 1:16

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