Appointed Season

Appointed Season
June 2, 2014
Titus 1:3  ". . . and which now at his appointed season he has brought to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior . . ."

There is a time and a season for everything, so writes the author of Ecclesiastes.  There is a time to be born and a time to die.  There is a time for war and a time for peace. This list of "times" and "seasons" is never ending.  The Bible is clear about specific times in history, moments of utmost significance.  The Bible is also clear about seasons for time-periods of change.  The Lord works in seasons and cycles, in ups and downs.  The tricky part about "times" and "seasons," however, is figuring out WHEN!  Is it time?  What season is it?

Fortunately for you and me, we do not have to figure out what season it is.  All we have to know is the Lord is in control and He will work out His appointed "times."  We must follow Him and we simply get to discover it as it is being revealed.  Most of us like to be warned; we want to know ahead of time what "time" it is.  But the Lord would suggest to you this is akin to distrust, this wanting to know.  The Apostle Paul was glad to uncover the mystery while it was being revealed to him.  Read the letter he wrote to Titus and you'll see what I mean.  When Paul was originally called by the Lord, Paul did not know where he would be going or what he would be doing  before it happened.  But all of the sudden, he found himself in the midst of the Lord's design for his life, just by simply doing what he knew he was supposed to be doing and trusting in the Lord.

If this sounds vague and impractical, is is supposed to.  Paul never had specifics, just leadings from the Lord.  And then when he least suspected it, he found himself in the middle of the Lord's "appointed season."  This wasn't by Paul's design, but by the simple revelation from the Lord AFTER it had already happened.  Paul had an epiphany moment and realized the Lord was at work.  Apparently, it needed to hit him in the head like a brick.  You and I need that, too.  We want the Lord to reveal what He is going to do and when, but it doesn't work that way.  You have to simply get up in the morning and put on your shoes.  Then you go about your day, listening to the leading of the Lord, trusting in Him.  Ultimately, even possibly unaware, you will find yourself in the midst of the Lord's "appointed season" for your life.

For some of you it is about time for an "appointed season."  For others, it is not time yet.  This can be discouraging, wanting and waiting for something to happen.  Here's a news flash; it IS happening.  This very day is critical to the Lord's design for your life and you're "appointed season" depends on it.  Today, seemingly boring today, is paramount to your designed appointments.  If you fail to follow through with today, then the "appointed seasons" will be delayed.  You can rebel and walk away from today, or walk through it with the expectation that it will lead you into your "appointed season."  The choice is yours but you have to do it blindly.  This is called trust.  "Appointed seasons" do not come without a significant amount of trust.  If you are not trusting in the Lord, then He cannot and will not take you through today's struggles successfully.  Today's struggles will come, but if you do not submit to the Lord's design in them, then it will not take you closer to your "appointed season."

For some of you, it's time.  For some of you, it will be a long time coming.  What you do right before hand depends upon you.  There is no "appointed season" revealed to those who fail to trust in the Lord.  "Appointed seasons" are ONLY apparent when we are walking in complete trust.  Paul faithfully trusted in the Lord and his "appointed season" was revealed.  "Appointed seasons" are always preceded by a lifestyle of trust.  Your "appointed season" depends upon your level of trust.

Don't take my word for it; look it up:  Gen 18:14, Esther 4:13-15, Ps 37:4-6, Ps 75:1-3, Prov 3:4-6, Ecc 3:1-8, Jer 8:7, Dan 11:26-36, Hab 2:3, Matt 26:18, Acts 9:1-12, Acts 17:26, Titus 1