God Made You, and You Belong to Him
By Rick Warren
“And Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.’” Luke 1:46-47 (NIV)
When it comes to planning, many Christians act like atheists. They realize Jesus saved them, but they don’t really trust him. They think they can plan their life any way they want to. But the reality is God created everyone, and he made each person for a unique purpose. He has a specific destiny for each individual.
About two thousand years ago, God had a plan for a young woman named Mary. He had created her and chosen her to become the mother of the Son of God.
What was Mary’s response when an angel told her about God’s plan? She didn’t say, “I’ve got my own plans for my life. I’m too busy. I have to do what’s best for me.” No, she realized God had a purpose for her life, and she was willing to do whatever he wanted.
Her response was a song of praise: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46-47 NIV). Mary recognized that God was her Lord and Savior, and she was eager to do his will. She trusted him with her life, even though she knew no one would believe her when she told them what the angel said.
Do you trust that God has made you for a specific destiny? The Bible says, “Know that the Lord is God. He made us, and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep he tends” (Psalm 100:3 NCV).
Many people will miss God’s plan for their lives by about 18 inches—the distance between their head and their heart. They intellectually believe the Gospel, but they don’t let it change their hearts.
The truth is that you were not made for your own sake. You were made by God, and you were made for God.
You might know quantum physics. You might understand chaos theory. You may even know how to build a rocket ship. But if you don’t know God, you’ve missed the purpose of life.
At the end of your life, God won’t care how well you did in your career or ask to see your bank account balance. Instead, he’ll ask you this: “Did you get to know me? Did you build a relationship with my Son, whom I sent to Earth to die on the cross for you?”
The most important thing in life is to know God—not to know about him, but to know him personally.
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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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