Where He has placed you!

I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry—

1 Tim 1:12 (HCSB)

Where has God placed you?  Some of us may respond well no where!  "I am in this dead end job!"  Or maybe you may say, "I really don't have any important role in the church or ministry."  We may excuse ourselves by saying, "I really don't have any gifts, skills," even, "God can't use me."  No,  God has placed you where you are for His purpose.  You have a ministry, whether you recognize it or not.

Notice three important things about Paul's statement to Timothy.  First, He is thankful.  Don't belittle where God has placed you but revel in it.  God has placed you where you are to do what only you can do.  Thank Him for using you there!

Second, notice that He says God has considered him faithful.  Was Paul more faithful than us?  Perhaps in some ways but over all no not really.  He was human just like us.  Sinful, some times stupid and not always doing what he should be and yet God considered him faithful.  Understand what God understands about you.  You are a work in progress.  If you are waiting to be perfect, ready or prepared you probably will never be used.  God considers us faithful not because of who we are but because of who we will be.

Third, just a reminder, God places us where He wants us.  Ministry is not a choice it is our calling.  We don't choose where and when we serve.  God places us in His place and in His time.

Just serve where He has placed you!

Destiny

If you keep silent at this time, liberation and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place, but you and your father’s house will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this.”

Esth 4:14 (HCSB)

Destiny is not necessarily a Biblical word but it is a Biblical concept.  It means, according to Webster's dictionary, "Something a person or thing is designated, assigned or dedicated to in advance."  It is a biblical concept isn't it.  Lets not forget that God has a plan and that plan includes you.  He has a purpose for your life.  But in God's way of doing things there is another biblical concept, Man's free will.

God gives us a choice.  We have the choice to obey or disobey.  We can work with Him or against Him.  We can choose to fulfill our destiny, His plan, or in sinful arrogance do our thing, fulfill our desires.

Be faithful and fulfill your destiny, God's plan.  You are not where you are by accident.  You are there on purpose and God has a plan to use you.  Just consider, you may be where you are, "for such a time as this."