WOW! I went back and read what the Lord had to say last Friday (my last post) and how timely. God knew what was ahead for our weekend with the tornadoes that ripped through our community. What a great reminder that God is in control and that he sees our troubles. We serve a wonderful and powerful God! And God had more to say this morning – He has a purpose for each one of us today:

“And why have I called you for this work?
Why did I call you by name when you did not know me…” – Isaiah 45:4

There have been several times over the course of my life when I have wondered why God chose me for the purpose He seems to have called me. I assume we have all had moments like this – moments when we wonder what our purpose is or why God chose us for this purpose. At times we look to the person on our left and the person on our right and ask God why His plan for them is so different from His plan for us.

“What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator.
Does a clay pot argue with its maker?
Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying ‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’” – Is.45:9

Isaiah spoke of how God uses even those who do not know Him. 150 years before it took place, Isaiah prophesied that God would use a foreign leader named Cyrus to accomplish His plan of setting Israel free from Babylon. “I will raise up Cyrus to fulfill my righteous purpose, and I will guide his actions. He will restore my city and free my captive people – without seeking a reward! I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!” – Isaiah 45:13

God had a plan for Cyrus before he was even born. He prepared the way for this man before he had even submitted to God’s sovereignty in his life. In the same way, God has had a plan for each of us before we were even born. He goes before us and equips us for the battle to which He has called us. He does this for two purposes – salvation and righteousness. It is God’s plan that each of us would come to a saving knowledge of who He is and how He has loved and cared for us before we were even a thought in the mind of our parents. It is God’s plan for righteousness to “sprout up together” with salvation to accomplish His purposes (Is. 45:2-8).

“I have cared for you since before you were born.
Yes, I carried you before you were born.
I will be your God throughout your lifetime – until your hair is white with age.
I made you, and I will care for you.
I will carry you along and save you.” – Is. 46:3b-4

How beautiful! God cares for us and carries us from the time before we were born, throughout our lifetime, until the end of our life. He carries us along with the plan to save us and to accomplish His purposes through us – so that salvation and righteousness can sprout up together.

The Lord called me before my birth; from within the womb he called me by name.
He made my words of judgment as sharp as a sword.
He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand.
I am like a sharp arrow in his quiver.
He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, and you will bring me glory.”

And now the Lord speaks – the one who formed me in my mother’s womb to be his servant, who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him.
The Lord has honored me, and my God has given me strength.
He says, “You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me.
I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring salvation to the ends of the earth.” – Is. 49:1b-6

…so that salvation and righteousness sprout up together. God saves us for the sake of righteousness, with which he saves others for the sake of righteousness, so that still others can be restored to a place of salvation for the sake of righteousness.

So, as we look around at the damage caused by the tornadoes we find ourselves asking “Why?” With confidence we believe that God will use it for His purposes – for the purpose of salvation and righteousness. We pray some will come to a saving knowledge of God through this and that some will be drawn back into a relationship with Christ. We pray that thousands will take the opportunity to live out the righteousness of God in the lives of others. In the midst of the rubble and destruction, we pray we will see sprouts of righteousness growing, healing our land and our community.

Lord, you know our hearts today. You know our desire to reach out and help those around us – those who were affected the most by the tornadoes and those whom you put in our path today. God, only you know your plan for my day but I submit to your plan. Thank you for caring for me, for carrying me. Use me for your purposes today, Oh Lord. Help me to see you at work in the lives of all those around me – those who have come to a saving knowledge of you and those who still do not know you. Give me eyes to see what you see and a heart that trusts you with the details. Amen.