Purpose and Limitations

The next section of the book of Matthew introduces John, John the Baptist as he is known. His birth was also miraculous, he was born to Zechariah and Elizabeth, ‘they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were well advanced in years’ (Luke1:7). Yet The Lord sent an angel to Zechariah to tell him the news, and it was promised that this child, ‘will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb’ (Luke 1:15). Another incredible promise to an unlikely, faithful, God-fearing couple. God told them their child was to prepare people for the coming Messiah. John was only 6 months older than Jesus, yet his ministry started much earlier. Before Jesus’ ministry became public, John spent years teaching and preaching. He had grown a reputation as an unusual man of God and was anointed to speak about the kingdom of God coming to those who would listen;

Matthew 3:1–6 (ESV): 

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, 

  “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 

  ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; 

make his paths straight.’ ” 

4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 

John was preaching to people and became so well known that people had given him a nickname ‘the Baptist’. He was so intriguing that people even went out to the wilderness to hear him, a barren place with nothing to entice anyone. He was a popular speaker who also fulfilled prophecy through his life. Some people may have begun to believe that he was the promised one, the Messiah, yet John knew his mission and was clear with people that the Messiah was to come. He never claimed to be something he wasn’t. He was certain of his role to be the one to ‘prepare the way of the Lord’ and he fulfilled it no matter the cost. 

John was anointed by God to call people to Him, and they followed. He told people to repent, they did. Yet there was not much about him to attract people. He was in the wilderness for a start, he wore rough, animal clothing, and you wouldn’t want to have dinner with him as he was known to eat ‘locusts and wild honey’. It was his character and his anointing to preach God’s word that attracted people. John was an unusually gifted man. Like many prophets in the Old Testament, he lived a life most did not understand, and he spoke truth. John knew his role to ‘prepare the way of the Lord’. He did not overstep or diminsh his God-given mission. He helped people to straighten out their lives in preparation to meet the promised Messiah who was already walking the Earth. John was anointed by God and empowered by the Holy Spirit. He instructed thousands of people to turn from their wickedness and live God-honouring lives, and they did. People sought him, heard him, liked him, followed him and spoke about him. Yet John knew though that he was only preparing the way, and he was confident and capable in this. He knew Jesus before most other people did, and he lived his life pointing others to him, getting them ready to meet him, as he knew when they did, they were meeting God himself! 

John didn’t seem to mind that this would mean his followers would one day beome Jesus followers. He didn’t even seem to mind that he had to eat bugs and whatever else he could lay his hands on. Or wear what i imagine must have been itchy clothing to cover his body, and spend a lot of time in the wilderness. John knew what he was called to do and what he was not called to be, and he got on with it. 

Are you the same; Are you doing what you know you are meant to do, and are you content with that and know your limitations?

You cannot be everything to everyone, so learn to be content with the God-given role that you do have. You have a purpose and limitations like John. God has designed you, He orchestrated your birth and life like he did Jesus and John. He has a plan and purpose for your life, are you seeking God to find out what it is? Are you trying to do too much and take on things that you are not built to deal with? It is ok to not do some things, because other people have been created and developed to do them. Do not worry if things seem unfinished or not ready, there is another coming who can finish the work, just do what God has given you to do and trust God with the rest, John did. He knew his role, the power of it and the limits of it. He knew God wanted him to prepare the way for someone else to come. John trusted God and got on with his job for years before Jesus became known, and look at the impact he had - people from ‘Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him’! He had no small ministry, but it was nothing when compared to the eternal ministry of Jesus! Yet John knew his purpose, and his limitations, he got on with it and trusted God, do you?

Obedience in the Yes and the No

 Psalm 132:1–18 (ESV): 

1  Remember, O Lord, in David’s favour, 

all the hardships he endured, 

 2  how he swore to the Lord 

and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob, 

 3  “I will not enter my house 

or get into my bed, 

 4  I will not give sleep to my eyes 

or slumber to my eyelids, 

 5  until I find a place for the Lord, 

a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.” 

 6  Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; 

we found it in the fields of Jaar. 

 7  “Let us go to his dwelling place; 

let us worship at his footstool!” 

 8  Arise, O Lord, and go to your resting place, 

you and the ark of your might. 

 9  Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, 

and let your saints shout for joy. 

 10  For the sake of your servant David, 

do not turn away the face of your anointed one. 

 11  The Lord swore to David a sure oath 

from which he will not turn back: 

  “One of the sons of your body 

I will set on your throne. 

 12  If your sons keep my covenant 

and my testimonies that I shall teach them, 

  their sons also forever 

shall sit on your throne.” 

 13  For the Lord has chosen Zion; 

he has desired it for his dwelling place: 

 14  “This is my resting place forever; 

here I will dwell, for I have desired it. 

 15  I will abundantly bless her provisions; 

I will satisfy her poor with bread. 

 16  Her priests I will clothe with salvation, 

and her saints will shout for joy. 

 17  There I will make a horn to sprout for David; 

I have prepared a lamp for my anointed. 

 18  His enemies I will clothe with shame, 

but on him his crown will shine.”

God remembers His faithful servants, whether they be paupers, kings or anything inbetween. God remembers and watches with favour those who keep their promises to Him, like David did. God loves that kind of dedication, obedience and faithfulness, and He rewards it. God does not forget what He has said, what you have done, or your quiet, steadfast dedication to Him. It is you that forgets. 

David’s passion for God caused him to feel unsettled even though he had a beautiful mansion for a home. For he knew that in some place, unknown, God’s holy presence rested in the Ark of the Covenant. David’s desire was to bring the nation to worship God, how could this happen if the presence of God that went with the nation into exile and back, is lost? This is the reason David made such a promise in the first place. Once the Ark was discovered, there had to be a permanent abode for it that was fitting for the King of Kings. David, and his team started searching, and eventually, they found the right place. David’s passion for God desired that he and the whole nation would discover what living in the presence of God was like.  So, he made his oath not to sleep until The Lord had his dwelling place amongst the nation of Israel.

When you make a promise to God and are working to fulfill it, it isn't easy. There comes a point when you wonder why you began doing it, how long it will take, and if it will get any easier. I am sure David felt like that in his search for ‘a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob’. David was so dedicated to this task that he swore that he would have no sleep until he had achieved it (v4-5). That is a brave promise! When you make an oath to God, how can you fail to fulfill your word? How did David do it? It must have got difficult for him. He must have grown tired, disappointed and anxious about finding ‘a place for the Lord’. Yet he continued diligently to complete this mission. He didn't make do or give up, his love and dedication to God caused him ti succeed in his mission to serve God and the nation in this way. David would have become exhausted and despondent journeying and searching to provide the right place. Yet he did not give up, he continued his search diligently. He was faithful to his word to The Faithful One. Remember this dedication, and let it inspire you in how you follow God and keep your promises to Him. The passion can wane, the sense of calling wither away as the reality of the hardship sets in. I wonder how long David went without sleep before he achieved his aim. He kept going in his mission, he was dedicated and demonstrated how to put God first above personal comfort and desire. Do you do the same?

When the right location of the Ark was discovered, and the right spot for the temple to be built found, God spoke to David. He made a promise for the generations of his family to come, if they were to give their hearts to God as David had. David had proved his allegiance and devotion to God, and God chose to pronounce a blessing over him and his family. Isn't that a beautiful thing! Yet God also made clear to David, that although he had searched for the Ark of the Covenant, found it, and brought i to it's dwelling place, he would not be the one to build a permanent home for it. His son, Solomon would. After all of that effort, that dedication and discomfort that David went through, how do you imagine he felt hearing that? Disappointed, relieved, angry? However, despite his own personal emotional response, David honoured this instruction from God. He did not rush off and do it himself anyway although he was the one with the passion for the project. Instead, David humbly obeyed the instruction of The Lord. 

David understood that God ideas are better than his own, and that God should have a say in who, where and when the temple, his earthly dwelling place should be constructed. So, although David had sacrificed sleep and rest in his search for the location, it did not mean that he was the man to fulfill the rest of the mission. David had to lay aside his desire to see a house of God being built. David had the vision, the plans and collected the materials, but he stopped there because God said so. How obedient are you to God when He tells you to hand over responsibility or to stop doing something?

David shows beautiful obedience and submission to God. He was powerful and rich, he cold command armies, and builders, but God said no, so David obeyed. That takes a lot of strength and trust. David did not get to see the fulfilment of his work and investment into people or the kingdom of God. Yet he came to terms with it because He knew God is faithful and trustworthy, so he obeyed. David’s passion and humility led to a glorious temple being built in Jerusalem, where the nation of Israel could come to worship. David’s dedication permitted and invited others into God’s presence. Yet he never saw a stone be laid. Do you have that level of obedience to God? To live beyond yourself and your generation to build and prepare for the kingdom of God to come, for the people to come?

You can impact nations and places through the simple obedience to seeing through the things God has given you passion and permission for, and stopping there. What are you passionate about doing for The Lord? Submit your ideas and passions to Him, and trust Him even if His plans are different to yours. Then you will be blessed, and so will others for generations ot come.