"Place in this World"

My devotion for tonight reminded me of this song by Michael W. Smith, "Place in this World." I love that song. And though it has that "late 80's, early 90's" feel to it, the song has a great message.

We all have a "place" in this world, a God-ordained and God-given assignment for our lives here on earth.

Tonight's devotion made me really think about this. And I wanted to share it.


"When the priests blew the trumpets, the people shouted. At the sound of the trumpets and the people's shout, the walls fell, and everyone ran straight into the city." --Joshua 6:20 [NCV]


We all have a part in the battle. We all have a place to be and a designated task. Sometimes, the task is the same for everyone--"walk around the city for seven days"--and sometimes we are given different roles in our walk (well, we ARE, not sometimes, given different roles in our walk).

Certainly, our lives here can be described as a "walk" with God. I like here the emphasis on the movement everyone was required to engage in. We are all asked to move, to keep going, in faith--and doing what he's asked us to do, whatever and whenever that may be.

Interestingly, these verses discuss how we all are given specific roles to do while we are walking. Some people are called to be priests and "blow horns" and others are asked to use their mouths to shout. These people knew better than to argue or fuss about their roles. There is an understanding here that EVERYONE KEEPS WALKING, and EVERYONE DOES WHAT GOD ASKS THEM TO DO.

Sometimes, it's hard for us to do that. We live in a society that questions, is curious, wants to SEE where we're going before we step out. But that's not how God works. Always--then and still today--he asks us to step out in faith, in blind obedience, BECAUSE HE SAYS SO.

And we need to realize that there are REASONS for what He requires. We may never know this side of heaven what those reasons are, but we need to TRUST HIM and HIS CHARACTER. God isn't on some insane power trip to control us. He has REASONS. He LOVES US and WANTS THE BEST FOR US. We need to walk, walk, walk with a KNOWLEDGE of this and a ever-growing appreciation of this SENSELESS LOVE He has for us.

But I love the message here, because though people were given different assignments and roles, their obedience allowed GOD to totally move in the supernatural realm and utterly defeat the enemy--the walls fell down. They never touched the walls or launched a direct attack on the walls. They didn't use dynamite. They just did what they were told to do, and somehow, in their obedience, God could command the impossible to happen--supernaturally.

What's amazing to me, and this speaks volumes, is that they ALL got to go into the city. When they did what they were supposed to do, God took over and enabled them ALL to go in and CONQUER their enemies. WOW.

This verse describes our role and responsibility on this earth, during the "battle." We must never shirk our responsibilities, or belly-ache about them, or complain. God has a PURPOSE for our lives. He doesn't give random commands or assignments. He knows what He's doing and what it takes for us to have VICTORY!!!

God, I beg you to show us, to show ME, our "Place in this World"