As we have short-term teams and interns come to work with us here, one of the things that we like to do is to go through a series of lessons that outline the bigger story that we are living within. We call this series of lessons Finding Your Purpose in God’s Plan. It primarily comes from the struggle that I and others have experienced as we asked ourselves for many years, decades in fact, what it was that God wanted us to do. What was our calling? How did God desire to use us? I think that these are fundamental questions for almost every person: Who am I? What is my purpose?

So as individuals and teams come to work alongside of us, we like to walk through a series of lessons that help to highlight the bigger story that we are living within, that God has placed us within.

The first lesson is called The Mission of God, looking at and considering God’s bigger-picture plan. What is it that he is doing? What is going on in the world that all of the rest of what we see around us, and that which is written in the scripture, fits within?

So, just to intentionally spoil the surprise, I believe that God’s mission is that his image would be spread all over the face of the earth. I believe that we can see that mission initially stated in Genesis 1, and then this same mission is restated in the Great Commission, and its conclusion shown within the discussion of the end times in Revelation. You can read through the details of what I mean by following the link above.

But having this same understanding helps me a lot as well as I read the rest of the Bible. For example, I would say that without that understanding of what God is doing, it becomes difficult to understand what Paul is saying as he talks about the “mystery” that is being revealed, that the Gentiles are being invited into the kingdom of God so that they also will be part of God’s people:

Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

Ephesians 3:8-9

So the mystery is that the Gentiles would know God… But why is that a mystery?

It is a mystery because it wasn’t always like that. In fact, it was the exact opposite. The Israelites thought – no, instead, it is better to say that they knew – that they were God’s chosen people. And in fact, they were the only chosen people. The Gentiles, according to everything that the Jews had understood up to that point, were not God’s chosen people.

Except the mystery is that, actually, in Christ, the Gentiles would also be God’s chosen people if they were redeemed and reconciled back to God in Christ, and at that time, that which seemed to be a mystery was being revealed to both the Jews and the Gentiles for the first time.

So what does Paul mean when he talks about the administration of the mystery? He is saying that he is taking this very message to both the Jews and to the Gentiles.

God has opened the way for the Gentiles too!

So, looking back and reading this here in our day, we could say: That’s nice. Good theological point… Nice idea. Let’s move on with our day.

Except, if we are a believer in Christ, this makes a significant difference. No, instead, it is a massive difference. It turns everything upside-down.

Why?

Because God has a plan and if you know God’s plan, that should be a determining factor, a direction for your life.

God’s plan is to spread his image all over the face of the earth. And he has called each person who believes Christ into service to be part of bringing that plan to completion. Why? Because it brings glory to him. It brings all of the glory to him.

My life and your life are not about me, nor is it about you. No, instead, our lives are about carrying out God’s plan. As believers, living for ourselves, for what we want, for what pleases us, is antithetical to God’s plan.

No, there is something even greater. Much greater. In fact, if you want to know what will truly please you, in that which you will find the greatest amount of joy, go and learn about God’s plan and understand how God has called you to join it.

Then start. Move. Do it. You can move somewhere else to be part his plan, or you can stay right where you are. You can stay in your job or you can do something new. Your circumstances are not the point. God will use you right where you are, if you will allow him to do so.

Becoming part of the administration of the mystery, that God’s image is being spread all across the earth, that he has called all people, from every tribe, tongue, and nation to come into his kingdom, and you have a role to play so that they can be reconciled back to God through Christ, is the most important part. That is where you will find true joy because that is the story that God has been telling from the beginning, and it is the same story that God will continue to tell all of the way to the end of time. And this is the same story into which he is inviting us even today.