Lord, What Do You Want Me To Do?

Lord, What Do You Want Me to Do?

—Acts 9:6

September 11, 2001, is a date like December 7, 1941—one that will live on in infamy. America was suddenly awakened to the reality that terrorism was not simply confined to the Middle East. Certainly, twenty-first-century terrorism is nothing new to that part of the world. One of the cruelest terrorist attacks of the first century took center stage in Acts, chapter 9. The man was en route from Jerusalem to Damascus, and his goal was clear: stamp out a Christian uprising there. In Acts 8 his terrorist cell, operating out of Jerusalem, had successfully eliminated Stephen, the first Christian martyr. The traveler was engaged in a systematic attempt to use intimidation and murder to crush this new and expanding church. This traveler—named Saul—was the master terrorist of his day, and like today’s terrorists, his evil acts were in the name of religion.

But something happened that transformed him. “Suddenly a light shone round him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ And he said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ ” (Acts 9:3–5). The risen Christ revealed Himself to Saul who, “trembling and astonished,” asked, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” (v. 6). You may know the story: Saul was gloriously converted to faith in Christ. Saul of Tarsus miraculously became the apostle Paul, the passionate preacher who, from his own pen, gave us almost half of our New Testament. Having found God’s will for his life, Paul spent the rest of his days spreading the gospel message and planting churches throughout the Mediterranean world. Then, at the end, outside the city gates of Rome, he was beheaded for sharing the gospel of Christ.

Paul’s question in Acts 9:6 is the question every one of us should ask: “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Each of us is unique: no one has a thumbprint like yours; no one has DNA like yours. No wonder, then, God has a job for you to do that no one else can do quite like you can. Paul never stopped asking this question. Too many of God’s people, however, take the opposite approach and each morning say, “Lord, here are my orders for today: bless me, take care of my family, meet this need for me, and straighten out that other person.” Isn’t it time for a new day to dawn when we start asking, “Lord, what do You want me to do today?”

There is a purpose for your life, accompanied by a divine plan, and it existed even before you took your first breath. Through Jeremiah God frames it, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). Think about that. Like both Paul and Jeremiah, you have a God-given purpose and role in His kingdom that was established even before you were born. God knew you, and He set you apart from all others. He gave you a job that no one can do quite like you can. Discovering this amazing truth brings the question, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” into clearer focus. Just think about your testimony as a Christ-follower.

THE LORD KNEW ME

What an awesome and profound thought, that God says to you and me, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you” (Jeremiah 1:5). Before your own parents knew you, before I was even conceived, God knew you and me! He didn’t merely know we were in the womb. There is nothing remarkable about that. Anyone could conclude that along the way of a mother’s pregnancy. But God knew me and God knew you before either of us were even formed in our mothers’ wombs.

You are not an accident. There is a specific, tailor-made design for your life. He has a purpose and a plan for you. Think of it. Before you were born, God knew you.

THE LORD SET ME APART

God continues to speak through the words of His prophet Jeremiah and says, “Before you were born I sanctified you” (Jeremiah 1:5). The word sanctified means that you are separated, set apart, treated as holy. Nothing you did or didn’t do brought this sanctification about. He set you apart from all others, and considers you sacred.

This is another awesome thought. God also set apart a day of the week, the Sabbath, to be different from all the rest just as He set apart a tenth of our income as holy and separate from the rest. He did the same with you. God not only knew you but He set you apart from all others. Thus, to use your life for any other reason than to primarily glorify Him would be a sacrilege. You are indescribably special to Him. Tragically, however, too many people live their entire lives without ever realizing this truth.

THE LORD GAVE ME A JOB

To Jeremiah, God said, “I ordained you a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). God has also “ordained” you for a special task for which He has uniquely gifted you. This word means “to assign; to designate.” This same word is used to describe how God “set [the stars] in the firmament” (Genesis 1:17). Each one of the millions of stars has its own appointed place set by God, and they all move in clocklike precision. Just as God has set and assigned each star in the heavens, He has assigned you a job that no one can do quite like you can. Realize that true success in life comes with knowing God’s will for your life . . . and doing it.

Let me illustrate this point with a truth about me that my wife can attest to: I have never been known for my handyman skills. When we moved our youngest daughter into her college dorm, I was assigned the task of assembling a small pedestal table. Only four screws were involved, so how hard could it be? After examining the situation I realized right away that each of the screws were of the Phillips variety with a little grooved cross in them; I needed a Phillips screwdriver. But in my impatience, I quickly grabbed a kitchen knife that was close by, pressed it into the screw, and worked hard to turn it down tight, but with little success. Later, I found Susie’s little toolbox, got the Phillips screwdriver from it, and it fit those little grooves perfectly. It felt so satisfying to turn the screw tight. And I felt pretty good about myself in the process. What was the difference? The screwdriver was doing exactly what it was made to do! If you are trying really hard at a task but not succeeding, maybe you aren’t doing exactly what God intended for you all along, what He fashioned and formed you to do. Find out what that purpose is, because in doing it will come satisfaction. Simply put, it will feel right.

Follow Paul’s example from the Damascus Road. Ask, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Stop going through life trying to tighten a Phillips screw with a kitchen knife. It will never work right. Instead, ask God to show you the job He has for you to do that no one can do like you. There is a divine purpose for you . . . there is a plan for you . . . and it was in place even before you were born!

Q & A: “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Are you following the will of God in your life? Are you willing to be what He wants you to be and to do what He wants you to do? If not, are you willing to be made willing? Success and fulfillment in life is in finding the answer to this question for yourself. It is the ability to find God’s plan for you . . . and then do it!