Today's Assignment

January 9, 2008

By William E. Richardson

"Speak, for your servant is listening" (1 Samuel 3:10, NIV).

Our Heavenly Father has millions of things He wants to accomplish on earth every day. Although His angels carry out portions of those tasks, God relies on His human followers to bring much of it to pass.

Let's ask some questions about how God leads us every day.

Is there really a daily assignment? I believe each of God's followers has at least one assignment per day. Today, it may be a "big" job we pour a lot of time and prayer into. Tomorrow, our charge may be something we consider "small." With God, every assigned task is important. Each one fits into God's plans for the world on that day.

How do I know my daily assignment? It would help if on January 1 of each year, God sent us a "Heavenly Assignment" daily calendar with rip-off pages. But He doesn't. Sometimes, the Holy Spirit strongly impresses us hours, days or weeks ahead of time. Other assignments may be revealed at a moment’s notice.

What if I'm not faithful today? Humans aren't angels; we struggle with doubt, fear and other uncertainties. We fail. On those days, we can ask for God's forgiveness and grace. He may give us our unaccomplished assignment to complete the next day.

What if I don't sense an assignment from God today? Every day, every Christian is to let his or her light shine. Jesus living in us should naturally shine out from us. In that way, our lifelong assignment -- to represent God at all times -- will fulfill a lot of our daily assignment.

The Book of Acts gives us some examples. Dorcas of Joppa was "always doing good and helping the poor" (Acts 9:36). Barnabas was an encourager. Aquila and Priscilla worked and shined for Jesus. Others lived their lives while, according to the old hymn, "listening every moment to the Spirit's call."

Your assignment(s) today may include befriending someone, offering to help in some way or speaking up for God. If someone calls you "an angel," they recognize your action as God-sent. While we aren’t actual angels, fulfilling our assignments from God is as important as an angel obeying his assignment.

Are you ready to follow whatever orders you'll receive today?

-- William E. Richardson is senior pastor of Afton (Iowa) Assembly of God.