God hasn't called us to save the world.

Here are 5 things we may need to be reminded of, coming into mid-week:

1. God hasn't called us to save the world.
This may seem counter-intuitive, but it's true. No where in the Gospel, or in the Old Testament for that matter, does God tell us that it's our job to save anything.

The Great Commission is sometimes interpreted to mean that the Son of God asked his followers to save the world. He didn't. What he said was: "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations." (Matt. 28.18).

Notice that God's Son didn't say he gave US all authority. He said HE had been given it. And because of that, he's taken us under his wing. Any authority we have, kingdom-of-God-wise, has been given to us through God's Son, it doesn't initiate with us. That's a huge difference.

2. God is in control.
If the source of all authority is God. Not us.

That means we aren't responsible for conjuring up results. The authority is God's. The results are in God's hands. We are invited to play a part in bringing the kingdom to earth by praying for it to happen and then following whatever God gives us to do. When the Son of God's disciples asked to be taught how to pray, the first thing the Son told them was to honor the Father. The second thing was to pray that the Father's will would be done on earth just as it is being done in heaven.

While  we have a part to play in advancing the kingdom, it's probably a good idea to remember...

3. The kingdom we're called to advance is God's Kingdom, not ours.
When we keep focused on the Creator of the Universe, it takes the focus off of us. 

That may not sound like much, but it's huge. It's all in the eyes. What are you looking at? Who are you turning to for help? Or are you trying to figure it out on your own? If we're continually frustrated with the way things are going, then there's a good chance that the way you're trying to go isn't God's. 

4. God's logic isn't the world's logic.
There's a scripture that talks about God's ways being higher than our ways. 

There's another that says God's thoughts aren't our thoughts. What God seems to be getting at is that our minds aren't big enough to comprehend everything about the kingdom this side of heaven. A perfect example of this is found in the 4th Chapter of Philippians. Paul writes not to be anxious but with prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, to make our requests known to God. When we do this, we'll experience a peace that surpasses all human understanding.

This kind of peace isn't logical. It's not based on God giving us a supernatural solution to anxiety. It's based on a decision to trust and hope in God in the middle of very challenging situations. The good news is that this kind of peace doesn't have to make sense to be experienced.

5. God doesn't need anything from us except our obedience.
Sometimes we think God actually needs our talents. But if we're thinking along those lines we could be allowing pride to trip us up. Talents were given to us to reflect the Creator and to honor God. We aren't doing the Eternal One any favors by using our talents for egotistical purposes. That's not how love works.

On the other hand, God does desire our obedience, coming from a heart that desires intimacy with God. John wrote that, "Those who obey God's word truly show how completely they love him." (1 John 1.5).

If we're in a healthy relationship with God, we'll naturally want to obey out of that sense of love. 

Intimacy is the fruit of love and that fruit is ripened through obedience.

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