He Who Calls Stars By Name

He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.--Psalm 147:4

It's altogether beautiful (Song of Soloman 4:7). It's God's treasured possession (Exodus 19:5), and He can no more easily forget it than a mother can forget a nursing child (Isaiah 49:15).

It's....YOU, my friend.

I think a lot of people think of the church in terms of a giant labor force. There are orphans and hungry people and wars and, well, a plethora of other problems. We, as believers, are God's Plan A solution to the world's problems--that is the truth. We're meant to be salt (Matthew 5:13) to preserve the unsaved, and light (Matthew 5:14) to show them the way. And we certainly are His body, and we work together to do these things.

But this isn't some cosmic volunteer project. It's not like you show up at the altar call and then given a name badge and hustled into some line to pick up your instructions with the masses. No one arbitrarily assigns you a task--just whatever needs getting done.

Light isn't something to be directed like a robot or a mule.

I think sometimes the church gets so focused on what we think we should be doing that we miss our own unique, individual calls. And, as a result, believers can start thinking of themselves as just numbers to God--even believers who love Him and believe He loves them, believers who desire to do His will. We get so focused on spending ourselves for Him that we don't stop to ask Him what He wants each of us spent on.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them (Psalm 139:13-15).

Whoah--"wonderful" are His works. Well...we are His works, and He planned every detail of our destiny before we were born (Ephesians 2:10)!

God doesn't slap a name badge--"Hello, my name is Christian"--on our chests when we get saved. As a matter of fact, He doesn't give you a name badge. Oh no, my friend--He's not in the business of covering up what's already there. He's in the business of transformation. He gives you a new identity, and a mission that He has chosen specifically for you from the start.

This is the God who dreamed of stars and then spoke each one of them into life. I think He has bigger dreams for you than performing a task, sitting in a pew, and then dying one day. Sure, Stephen served tables. He was chosen for that, and he performed his duty as God ordained. And then, when it was time, he answered another call which he'd also been assigned: being martyred for the kingdom. (See Acts chapter 7.)

I'm not saying you're called to be a martyr. What I am saying is, there's a very specific call that God has placed on your life. God's call is not for "special" people or "chosen" people. If we're at the wedding feast, clothed in Jesus' garments of righteousness, we are chosen. (See the parable of the wedding feast in Matthew 22.) And each of us are chosen for a specific time and purpose (Esther 4:14).

If you are striving to complete some "good work," you may be neglecting the greater vision that God has for your life. What's more, you could be robbing somebody else of the blessing they've been assigned by doing it for them!

Don't over-think this. It's not wrong to serve, and there are most certainly everyday things that need to be done in the church. But God doesn't see you as a work animal, and He didn't create you just to use you for His purposes and toss you aside. He has a vision for your life that is much, much more than you could dream.

Yes, YOU.

"But I'm just a woman." "But I'm just a teacher." "But I'm just a nursery worker....just an usher...just a servant."

We are ALL servants. But guess what? The one we serve CREATED THE UNIVERSE. And, through His one begotten son, He has adopted us all as sons and daughters. And sons and daughters don't just sit on the sidelines, waiting for everyone else to tell them what to do. They go out and take the kingdom! We don't just get snatched out of the fire--we get to go take back the ground that was lost.

Don't you dare say, "But I'm just a sinner." If you haven't gotten the memo, Jesus took care of that at the cross. Put on your wedding garment and show up for the feast!

Parents purpose much more for their children than employers (even well-meaning ones) do. He has dreams for you, and a task that only you can do. In fact, if we are, as we believe, God's Plan A solution for the world, then don't you think He would create each of us to be on mission to a particular place at a specific time? We don't just get snatched out of the fire--we get to go take back the ground that was lost.

God's calling YOU, my friend. The Holy Spirit is ready to empower you to set about that beautiful work that God has had in mind for you since before you were born. Stop hiding out behind whatever table or task you have settled for and ask Him what it really is. Own it! Chances are, you're already on the right track; it's never a bad idea to serve where service is needed. But don't use "what needs to be done" as an excuse for what you should be doing.

He made stars. And He's waiting to make you shine.