Living in grace is liberating and empowering. Grace gets us into the loving presence of God and it validates our existence.  The only accurate way to understand ourselves is in relation to God: We are God’s children and we love because God loved us first.

I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him. (Romans 12:3, MSG)

We are God’s beloved children and we are called to do our part in God’s salvation plan. We might think it is not much but we are all needed to do our part. We have been created to be unique and different in order to fit in the master plan. There is a reason why you are you and born in this time of history.

In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t. (Romans 12: 4-6, MSG)

We get our value and meaning from being a child of God. We get our direction and purpose from being part of God’s amazing mission. There are many parts and one body; there are many parts and one quilt. God is a Master Quilter and each of us has an important part in his creation. We can’t see the big picture yet. But we can be certain that God knows what he is doing. We need to trust and submit ourselves into God’s hands. He can do much more with us than we could ever do on our own.

God creates community and togetherness even when we feel lost.
God creates meaning and purpose even when we feel less than adequate.
God creates beauty and harmony even when we feel out of control.

Because God is beyond our capabilities. Because God is beyond patterns and causalities. Even when we feel the quilt God is creating is way too crazy it is not. Even when we think there is no plan in all this there is.

We are to trust! God has a plan!
We are to rest! God is in control!
We are to rejoice! God is good!

 

Gracious God,
Thank you for having a master plan
for each of us and the whole wide world.
Show us what is our unique place in your plan.
Empower us to do your will.
Equip us to form community with our neighbors.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Today I challenge you reflect on what is your part in God’s quilt. How has God called you to serve in the body of Christ? If you are not sure ask God to show you.

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you serve God with your whole person!

This post is part of One Word at a Time: Quilts Blog Carnival & What Is on My Heart Tuesdays. Check out the other posts!

Image courtesy of Photobucket/SueHaddox