"I'm off to Spain, with a stopover in Rome." Romans 15:24
Paul never got where he wanted to go. Have you ever thought about that? He didn't reach Spain. That was his goal. That was his destination. What he perceived as a "stopover" was actually his divine destination. Instead of traveling to Spain he landed in a prison cell in Rome.
I think there is a profound lesson buried in this simple text. Where you're at geographically or occupationally or relationally isn't the issue! Who are you becoming? That is the issue. We tend to be more concerned with where we're going than who we're becoming. God is far more concerned with who we're becoming than where we're going. Spain isn't the goal. For that matter, neither is Rome. The issue is who you're becoming right here right now! All I know is this: I'd rather be the right person in the wrong place than the wrong person in the right place.
I have a simple definition of success: do the best you can with what you have where you are. If you are faithful right here and right now, then one day you might get to Spain. You might not. But you will be the kind of person God can use anywhere anytime!
Paul never got where he wanted to go. Have you ever thought about that? He didn't reach Spain. That was his goal. That was his destination. What he perceived as a "stopover" was actually his divine destination. Instead of traveling to Spain he landed in a prison cell in Rome.
I think there is a profound lesson buried in this simple text. Where you're at geographically or occupationally or relationally isn't the issue! Who are you becoming? That is the issue. We tend to be more concerned with where we're going than who we're becoming. God is far more concerned with who we're becoming than where we're going. Spain isn't the goal. For that matter, neither is Rome. The issue is who you're becoming right here right now! All I know is this: I'd rather be the right person in the wrong place than the wrong person in the right place.
I have a simple definition of success: do the best you can with what you have where you are. If you are faithful right here and right now, then one day you might get to Spain. You might not. But you will be the kind of person God can use anywhere anytime!
15 Comments:
Nice...loved this one...the timing is Divinely weird...
Great post...
Wow, I needed to be reminded about this. I want to be the kind of person that God can use anywhere, anytime!
Timely word! Thanks, Pastor Mark!
Thank you so much for this post. It's crazy last night and this morning I was struggling questions about moving and who is the right person and what am I gonna do with my life and I just randomly checked out the blog and it was def. from the Lord and what I needed to hear.
We tend to look ahead and not look in the present moment. Your thoughts give encouragement to me that God can only ordain. I was just journalling about following Him wholeheartedly, (reading from Joshua 14) and knowing the end of the journey is not in site but following Him daily is so much more attainable.
I am inbetween ministries, having just been in a rough spot, and now looking for that next calling. Not knowing where He will land us, but knowing He will land us in His time. Thanks Mark.
I love the fact that Paul's letter to the Romans is in some ways the result of an unfulfilled intention. He wanted eventually to get to Rome, but in the meantime he wrote a letter.... How many unfulfilled intentions of our own is God using? Never mind, the witness of scripture says, be faithful!
Not to be contrary, but do we know he never hit Spain? I thought I heard somewhere that he got as least as far as France after being released from Rome the first time. Just curious.
I just got back from Greece on Monday, we stayed in Rome Sunday night. We did a camp for Missionary students. Loved Greece! Long flight to Rome though!
Thanks for this today Mark...I needed to be reminded of it these days. God bless you.
Fantastic...needed to hear this. Thanks.
great thought... those verses from Romans were important do us before we moved to Spain... but don't tell the Spaniards that he didn't get to spain... local history says he landed near the city of Tarragona (just south of Barcelona). It was an old Roman city and the natural port... very old traditions says he was released for a time from Roman prision and got to Spain... I like to think it is true for obvious reasons.
Thank you for these words. I struggle so much lately with where I'm called geographically. Finding the answer to where I should be going has more of my attention then who am I becomming?
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ohhhh man! this was just what i needed! I love how God works!!!
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