Assignments of Grace
By Dean Collins
Have you ever been asked to do something and then wondered why you were asked? Sometimes we are asked to do things by someone who sees something in us that we do not see or even imagine. I am sure you have noticed that some tasks are given to us not as a question but rather as an assignment. I wonder how many times we resist our assignments because of a sense of insecurity or lack of ability but fail to understand that what is really happening is that we were chosen for the assignment because of God’s favor.
If you think you were given a hard assignment in the middle of a tough time, I bet you will agree that Noah’s assignment might have been more challenging! According to Genesis, the environment and circumstances of Noah’s assignment were as follows:
“The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.”” (Genesis 6:5-7 ESV)
We might think that our current moment in history is fraught with challenges, but based on this text I believe Noah lived in a world that was indeed much darker. And into that abyss God gave Noah what seemed to be an impossible task at every level. Imagine what a project plan for building an ark would look like! And what about the details involved in collecting the animals? Noah definitely had a tough assignment. But notice what Genesis 6:8 says: “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”
Just a few weeks ago you likely read the second chapter of Luke or heard it at your church. Remember what the multitude of angels said to the shepherds at the announcement of the birth of Jesus? “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Out of God’s overwhelming grace, we have been given the gift of life. Our hope rests in Jesus as our Savior and Lord. It was God’s amazing love that sent Jesus to earth. Because of Jesus and his death, burial, and resurrection, we have life. We have been shown the favor of God through Jesus.
Matthew tells us that at the baptism of Jesus God spoke from heaven and said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” At his baptism and throughout his life, Jesus demonstrated his obedience to the will of God. It was in agony that Jesus prayed, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done.” (Luke 22:42)
Through the grace and favor of God, we have life in Christ, both now and forever. God gives each of us assignments out of his favor and grace as well. Some of these assignments may be easier than others, but I want to challenge you to consider that God might lead you to an assignment you hesitate to accept, possibly because of your uncertainty about your gifts or talents. In times like this, it is essential that you seek the wisdom of God in scripture, in prayer, and in the counsel of trusted spiritual advisors.
No matter how young or old we might be, our best response to God is obedience, which may well be demonstrated through praying that God’s will be done in your life so that his will may be accomplished on earth, just as it is in heaven.
Father, thank you for your overwhelming grace. Thank you for the privilege of being created in your image and transformed by the power of the gospel. Grant us the courage to surrender to your will today in whatever assignment you have for us. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Genesis 6:5-8; Luke 2:10-14; Matthew 3:16-17 ESV
Photo by Elias Null on Unsplash
Photo by iam_os on Unsplash
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