Book of Genesis – Naty Matos

This is the second post requested by one of our readers. Growing up everyone asks you what do you want to do when you grow up? Nobody asks you, have you discovered God’s purpose in your life? How many times we choose a career path or a living because of it’s financial profits, the propensity of power or our personal exposure instead of our gifts, talents and purpose?

The world view of human life is formed from the point of view of achieving status, hoarding possession and being selfish about our own well being. When we discover Christ, we realize that life has nothing to do with that.

So what is the plan? First of all we are not here by coincidence. God created humanity for a purpose. In both Genesis 1:26 and Genesis 2:15 it is said that God created mankind to rule and work the earth. In other words, it’s not ours, we are here to take care of it. We were also created to use our gifts and talents for the Glory of God and to disciple the nations of the world.

Individually we also have a plan and a personal purpose. We read in Ephesians 1:11 NIV “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.” We need to seek God and discover what our individual purpose is. In my book Growth Lessons there’s a lesson about “Operating in your gifts” that I would recommend if you’re searching for your personal purpose.

Life lived with purpose its worth living, otherwise we wander our days unsatisfied. When we live for our own goal, within our own plan and not those that we were created to fulfill, likewise life is unsatisfied.

We first need to discover our individual plan, that in the large scheme of things will be attached to the larger plan. Once we do, we will find purpose, fulfillment and satisfaction. No earthly riches, fame or power can accomplish that.

Remember,”Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is” Ephesians 5:17

“The greatest tragedy in life is not death, but life without reason. It’s dangerous to be alive and not know why you were given life.”Anonymous

Be blessed

PS. Remember that we will have Best Seller Author Shawn Lamb this coming Wednesday on The Rising Muse talking about the influence of her faith in her writing and presenting her new book. I know we are all looking forward to her visit.

Have you ever felt like the rat in the wheel, like one thing happens and when it starts to look up, wham! it starts all over again. It is sometimes hard to see the silver lining in the middle of the storm. If you ever need motivation about the fact that everything ends up working for our good, just read the story of Joseph in Genesis. Talk about a guy jacked up by everyone that could, including his own brothers.

From the beginning of the story you see the tension building as he’s developing his gifts and his brothers are jealous of him. The first thing they thought about doing to him was to kill him, but they decide to sell him as a slave. With siblings like that who needs enemies, right? But then God made it where he found favor with his master who put him in charge of everything and he learned, as a slave, how to manage the land and the livestock.

That was too easy, so the Master’s wife had her eye set on Joseph and wanted a little more personal tender loving care. As a man of God and of integrity he rejected the woman. She couldn’t take that offense and made a scene pretending that Joseph had tried to assault her. Poor Joseph is sent to jail.

Ah! In jail God makes him get favor with the keepers and he was in charge of other prisoners, but he was still a prisoner. In there he met some people, I’m not going to give you the details, you have to read this one. The bottom line is he ends up being taken out of jail and made basically the second in power in Egypt. With his experiences, gifts and knowledge he journey the country through a horrible famine as well as reconnected with his family and provided for them through the famine.

When his brothers finally realized that it was him, they were in shame and Joseph’s words really caught my attention: “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt” Genesis 45:8

So regardless of what part of your journey you are, can you appreciate that your life has a purpose? That it’s true! God never wastes a hurt, that your test is part of a bigger purpose and a testimony. Your troubles are part of the master plan to bring glory to God in the end.

Ask yourself what can you learn from your current situation? What skills is God imparting in you for the future through your struggles? You may think, but this is too painful. Have you ever prepare to compete in an athletic event? It takes a lot of pain and sacrifice. So just enjoy the ride and see what lessons you need to learn…and when you think the world around you is treating you bad, read about Joseph, it will show you that your situation is not as bad, or at least that you are not alone.