It took me years to realize the huge difference between God choosing someone to do something and when that person chooses to do it on their own. Some achievements may look good and feel good, but if God was never part of them, they are accomplished in vain. Furthermore, I have also realized that a project can be God’s project, but if it is not done in God’s timing, it will also be unfruitful. Being appointed by God and being self-appointed are two different things. At times, we go through unnecessary challenges that lead to confusion and frustration because we are impatient. This stems from the fact that we don’t like to allow God to govern our lives; that’s why we self-appoint.
When we consider the story of King Saul and David, we can all appreciate the blessings of God’s choice and the pain of our own choice. From that story, we saw that the people chose king Saul because they thought he played the part, sounded the part, and looked the part (1 Samuel 9:2). However, God chose David.
One may think that because God selected David, his life would be a smooth ride. As we read the story, we realize that David’s life looked more like hell. There is nowhere in the Bible where God promises that when He appoints someone, the person will not face challenges. In fact, Jesus warned us in John 16:33 that it will be just the opposite. The beauty of it is that those whom God selects and appoints, He is responsible for, like a friend who invites you on a trip and promises to cover all expenses. So, when God appoints you for a job, expect persecution, expect trouble, but also expect to be well-equipped for the task. God has the power to turn you into a survivor, an overcomer, a conqueror, and a mighty warrior because He does not call the qualified, but He qualifies the called. God chooses the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and He chooses the weak things of the world to shame the strong (1 Corinthians 1:27).
The greatest anointed person we’ve known is Jesus. Jesus gives the greatest revelation of what it means to be anointed by God for a holy purpose. No one was more persecuted than Jesus, and no one will ever be more persecuted than Jesus because He is the Anointed One. No purpose on earth will ever be greater than the purpose He accomplished, and He was equipped to do His work. That’s why Jesus Himself said in Luke 4: 18, “The Spirit of the Lord has anointed Me to proclaim…” Before Jesus stepped into His assignment, there was a time when He was off the scene. Therefore, Jesus had to wait for the Spirit of the Lord to anoint Him for His sending, which also meant He was in preparation. And someone might say, ‘But why? This is Jesus we are talking about here. Is it because He was more human than God before He started His assignment?’ The answer is no; Jesus was still equally human and equally God. He made Elizabeth’s baby leap even while He was a Baby inside Mary’s womb. However, Jesus submitted to the process because He came to this earth not just to save and redeem, but He also came to be a role model to you and me. Hence, He is the only One who has all authority to say “Follow Me.”
Being appointed by God, it is not something that we must boast about, but to be humble about. The reality is, the deeper you go into it, the more you realize you need God. It will cause you to see God’s love, power, and His people differently. In addition, your understanding of this specific Bible verse in Ephesians 6:12, which says, “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood,” will be enhanced. You will soon realize that just like God uses His people to operate on earth, the enemy of your soul also uses his people to try to throw you off balance. One of the greatest challenges that those selected by God must face is the courage to stand firm and serve with humility, dignity, and class. This requires self-denial, which also means being willing to care less about people’s opinions about you. As long as you know that God’s opinion is what matters most, you are on your way to destiny. And I won’t pretend this is easy to do because it isn’t. There is nothing cute about persecution; however, we take comfort in the promises that God makes concerning the righteous. In Psalm 34:19, the Bible says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”
Those who are called and appointed by God are called ambassadors, which also means that they represent God’s kingdom. The beauty of being an ambassador for Christ is that He doesn’t ask them to manipulate, judge, or force anything. He simply wants them to represent the kingdom. They become a model of/for His Kingdom, just as He modeled it for them. An analogy that kept coming to mind, and I feel the need to share it with you. It’s like someone who works as a representative for the Coca-Cola company, and he is sent to a meeting in a different state to represent the company. Let’s say the meeting became intense or confrontational, and the representative was severely disrespected. Or maybe he needed to make an important decision for the company. So, the representative cannot allow the offenses to cause him to act out of character or to make hasty decisions based on how he feels because he is representing the company. He would probably need to step out of the room to call his supervisor since he is not in charge. And this is no different than the way God expects His ambassadors to view their assignments when He sends them. Therefore, ambassadors do not react; they report. I want you to see how this was also modeled with Moses. When God revealed His power to Moses in Exodus chapter 3, through a burning bush that was not consumed, we can say that this was the moment when all transactions and preparations were made. However, the assignment was at the Pharaoh’s palace. And Moses needed to remain in constant communication with God to know what to do next. And after God delivered the people from the Egyptians, Moses’ assignment shifted. God’s people became his assignment. And when the people complained too much or were ungrateful to God, and when they did wicked things like building an idol in the shape of a calf, Moses was angry at them. And out of anger, Moses broke the stone tablets of the covenant law at the foot of the mountain, which were the work of God (Exodus 32:19). Another instance, Moses struck the rock twice with his staff instead of speaking to it (Numbers 20:11), which caused him to forfeit his destiny. These examples serve as a reminder to us that ambassadors do not react; they report.
When we submit ourselves to the authority of God and His kingdom, we don’t have to carry everything on our shoulders. I think it is easier to report the issue(s) to the Boss than to try to fix the problem(s) ourselves. The truth is, when we make it a habit of telling God of the wrongs done to us, we show Him that we know He oversees our lives. We do not report to Him because we are trying to keep God informed. After all, God is Omniscient, Omnipresent, and Omnipotent. Therefore, we report to Him as a sign that we depend on His decision, not yours.
SCRIPTURES
For the king trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High, he will not be shaken. Psalm 21:7
But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3
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