The Desires of Your Heart
Read Proverbs 16:4
We have been talking about the fact that God has created you for a purpose. We have said that He has used the events of your life to mold you according to His “good pleasure.” It is what theologians call the Providence of God. That does not mean that something may be good for God but bad for us, for we know that God is only good and desires only good for us. In fact, He can take the bad things in our lives and bring good out of them. The point of all this is that God’s plan is not merely to bring us to salvation and then walk away. Salvation is not an end in itself. God molds us and conforms us through the Holy Spirit to the image of Christ that we might be like Him and that God might bring good through us.
Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16 NASB)
God’s plan is to bring good through you that He might be glorified. God has created you, but that creation continues even now as He molds and develops you.
When we talk about serving others, we are recognizing the fact that God has created you for a purpose. Our existence is predicated on God’s plan for His kingdom. And since He has created you for this purpose, it is in Him that we find our meaning and purpose in life. The Greek philosophers, as well as philosophers throughout the ages, have sought to answer the question, “Why are we here?”
As you explore this idea, consider for a moment, what do you have a passion for? What can you lose time doing? Often we find that the dreams we have are instilled in us by the Lord. Joseph is a good example of this. (Genesis 37:5-11) David knew this principle when he wrote, “Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalms 37:4 NASB)
As we serve others, we see the hand of God at work, and we are blessed as well. Pray that the Lord will give you the opportunity to bless others by your service. May He bless you with the desires of your heart.