My Place in the Kingdom

Author: Dr. Fitzroy Nembhard (Bethel Abundant Life Ministries, Palm Bay, FL)

The story is told of a man who wanted to get some work done but was pestered by his daughter. To keep her busy, he found a picture of the world in a magazine, tore it into pieces, and asked her to put the pieces back together like a puzzle. Minutes later as he continued his work, she came to him with the picture correctly fitted together. “How were you able to put those pieces of the world together so quickly?” her father asked. “Oh, Dad!” She smiled. “On the other side of the paper was a picture of Jesus, and once I got Jesus in the right place, the world came back together again,” she said.

Finding my Place

Like the pieces in this puzzle, many people sometimes feel out of place. Myriad of ministries are in shambles as leaders wonder who will carry on their legacy. Some pastors even force their children into ministry so they can keep the mantle in their family. Priorities change rapidly in this postmodern world. Should I go to seminary, or should I study chemical engineering? Should I give all my time to ministry, or should I travel the world in pursuit of pleasure and fulfillment? How do I choose the right profession? I love the Lord, but I can’t seem to align my interests with the church. What is my place in the kingdom? Where do I fit in? These questions are difficult to answer, but like the little girl who solved the puzzle in minutes by putting Jesus in focus, we can find the answers more quickly if we put Jesus at the center.  “But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you,” stated Jesus in Matthew 6:33.

People perish without vision, according to Proverbs 29:18. It is then essential to have a vision. From where do I get this vision? Do I just come up with a catchy phrase? How should I plan my career? Should I just pick a field that is popular, one that I love or one in which I can eke out my future? No, our choices should be centered on God’s will for our lives. We should surrender our will to the Lord Jesus, who prayed in Gethsemane that His will would be aligned with that of His father. When we sacrifice the desire or temptation to conform to the world for the transformation that comes from God, it is then that we discern God’s perfect will and vision for our lives. A strong prayer life and a sincere desire to please God are the keys to finding our place in His kingdom.

The Need for Mentorship

There is more to being successful and finding our place in the Kingdom of God than praying until our sweat resembles drops of blood. No person is an island. No one should stand alone. As members in the body of Christ, we need a mentor. While Samuel was receiving a vision from God in a time when there was no open vision, he needed Eli to guide him on how to respond to the vision he was receiving (1 Samuel 3:7-11). Mentors are helpful in providing support, wise counsel, and asking the probing questions that others may be afraid to ask us. Some plans require critical thinking, a few days of fasting, and reevaluation. “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21). A person must be properly positioned, open to change, humble, and filled with the Spirit of God to be molded into a vessel that God can use—a vessel through which God’s purpose can prevail. It is by taking heed to the Word of God and accepting and adhering to wise counsel that we learn how to position ourselves for God to guide us.

Succession Planning – Helping others Find their Place

We cannot allow for there to be a generation that does not know the Lord. Since each of us has a unique vocation and purpose that revolves around helping someone else to come into alignment, fulfilling our purpose ensures the propagation of the truth of God to the next generation. It is pertinent that each ministry in the body of Christ furnish a succession plan to transfer mantles and pass the baton to the right person. “If you obey God, you will have something to leave your grandchildren. If you don’t obey God, those who live right will get what you leave” (Proverbs 13:22, CEV). While we may not have wealth to pass on to our children—biological or otherwise—a solid foundation built upon the Word of God is priceless. Each one of us can reach another person with the ministry and message of reconciliation—the goal of which is a solid relationship with our Creator. Once we get Jesus in the right place, the world will come back together again.