We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28 HCSB)

I had the opportunity to go to a job interview for a teaching position at a school near where I live for seventh-grade social studies. I felt like I did well at the interview and the principal seemed to like me, but I never got a callback. So, what does that mean for me? It means I didn’t get the job.

I’m Okay with that, though. Because, as an aspiring writer, I know a full-time teaching position means I wouldn’t have time to write. Most of my time would be spent writing lesson plans, planning for the next day, and researching material so I would be giving students the correct information.

The whole time I was preparing for the interview, I was thinking/praying, “Lord, don’t let me have the job if it’s not what you want for my family and me.” So, not getting the job confirmed things for me.

There is a curious event in the Bible with the arrival of wise men who came to see Jesus. Every nativity scene you see shows three richly dressed men arriving at the place where Jesus was born. We don’t really know if there were only three men. We only know that they brought three gifts.

They probably were rich since they came bringing very expensive gifts. They were also very smart men who studied the stars and understood the changes they saw in the sky. They knew that the appearance of a star meant a king had been born.

Yet all of this was in God’s plan. It all served a purpose. I believe their gifts had a practical meaning and symbolic meaning. God knew that King Herod would search for Jesus to kill him. These gifts were a means for Joseph to escape to Egypt and be able to provide for his family. The symbolism points to who Jesus is and his purpose on earth. There is no better way of expressing it than the way it is portrayed in “The Nativity Story.” In the following clip, we see the shepherds first and then the wise men

I’m awed by God’s planning. God’s purpose is not haphazard. It’s well thought out and planned. He thought of things that you and I wouldn’t think of because He understands us better than we understand ourselves. He knew some people would need to see symbolism in order to understand the purpose of Jesus’ coming while others would need to see the simplicity of his birth.

It gives me great comfort to know that I have a purpose and that God will work it out for me. I just have to do my part. Sometimes, that’s the hardest thing to do.

 

Father in Heaven, I praise you because in this chaotic world you bring order and a purpose to all things. Thank you for the purpose you have for my life. Help me to live it out every day.