Our life and purpose fits like a puzzle

Eph 2:18-21, 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the buildingfitly framed togethergrowthunto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. KJV

I was watching my daughter work a puzzle. She would study each piece. She would try one and search for another, try again and search … That is the way our life is.In light of the purpose of God, your life looks like a puzzle. And you have the single piece that represents you or at least a part of our life. It may not always make sense by itself, but remember that God has the lid to the box. He knows what the end product is going to look like. 1.Each piece is specific and unique in its assignment No other piece can replace it. I always thought, “If I don’t do it, God can get someone else”. The fact is, most of the time He can’t. No one else fits. That is how unique you are in your design. Other pieces of the puzzle look very similar but they cannot lock into place. When you are not in your place, others suffer. Many times the assignment is lost. 2.Each piece has its own personality You bring out a part of the picture like no other piece can. That is why it is so important to be true to your self. Authenticity is essential for you. We lose ourselves many times by looking at someone else’s beauty, someone else’s strengths. But the fact is you are the completion of the picture. You bring out a part of the story that no one else can tell. What this means is that there are no unimportant pieces. Each piece has its own uniqueness. Don’t try to change who you are, or try to be like someone else. Celebrate the unique qualities that you alone have. 3.Your piece of the puzzle is like, yet unlike the others As with all puzzles, there is a blend and flow that ties all of the pieces together to tell a story or show a picture. The cut of the pieces are very similar…of the same tribe and body... The bottom line is that you don’t fit with just any puzzle. Within each puzzle, there is a kindred of color, form, style and message. Did you know that you are geographically assigned to a group, a place and a mission? You have an assignment to the location or part of the country that you live. I have seen people try to fit into churches or groups that did not match their DNA or style. They are good people. They just don’t fit. The seem to look just like you and like some of the same things that you like. In the same way, you can hold two or three pieces up and cannot tell the difference, but when you try to plug them in, there is not a fit.

4.Its identity is discovered in others. Only when the pieces come together do you see the big picture. You are only made complete in relationship with others. You make them complete and they make you complete. One of the greatest lessons that you will learn is that isolation is a trap.It is a mistake to stay away when you are hurt of discouraged. When people get out of joint or dismembered, you see swelling, pain, and lossof limb.Even though each member (body part) is individual, yet it is empowered by it’s coming together. There is strength and power that only comes from our connection. This is the danger of division. We lose ourselves as well as one another when we allow something to divide us. We need one another Hebrews 10:25 Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together. 5.It is an effortless fit. Each connection causes you to be locked into place.You are what you are with no effort. I don’t struggle to be a pastor. That is my design. I am what I am by the grace of God. Rom 12:3-8 … 3For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. (Let me interject here that the subject of this chapter is the many member body of Christ. You have been dealt THE measure of faith to be what you are called to be. ) 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity (liberally); he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. KJV So the bottom line that you have been given the measure of faith that you need to be everything that you are called to be. There is not struggle in just being yourself. Most all of our struggle comes when we forget who we are and strive to be someone we are not. 6.It is beautiful when it is in it’s place When you are in your place, there is such beauty that manifests from your life. When you are in your place, your life says something. We must also remember that our life is not about us, rather our part contributes to something bigger than us. The story of the bible was not about Abraham and David and others. It is a story about God and His faithfulness. The bible is the menu but Jesus is the meal. When we all get together and find our place, the image we see is the love of God through Jesus Christ poured out in us. 7.What happens to a puzzle when pieces are lost? This is when a person gets full of themselves. They lose their way and believe that it is all about them. You must remember that the blessing of Abraham was not that you would get a blessing but rather that you would be a blessing. When you stop hooking up and stop being a blessing, the whole picture suffers. These are the instructions for us in relationship to the other pieces of the puzzle. 1 Corinthians 12:18-31 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."

22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism (discord or dissension) in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. NKJV Incidentally, that more excellent way is in the next chapter. 1 Corinthians 13 tells us that it is love.