As soon as those last words were out of my mouth, I thought, "Where did that come from?". I then began to contemplate what that could mean.
"Our Place in Relation to God"
To the world, somebody being "put in their place" references a person being knocked down a peg or two after being perceived to be too lofty. Certainly God also warns us against thinking too highly of ourselves.
"For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." Romans 12:3
One common way in which people think more highly of themselves is to disregard God's ways in favor of their own understanding (Isaiah 55:9; Proverbs 3:5). When you see someone who justifies disobedience to God's word, then you are looking at the fruit of pride.
Being high-minded may also cause you to become impatient with God, taking matters into your own hands and creating an Ishmael instead of waiting for God's promises to be revealed. God had promised Abram that He would provide him a son. Yet not waiting for God to bring this to pass, Sarai had Abram conceive a son through her handmaid Haggar (Genesis 16:1- 18:15). Yet, Ishmael was not the son God promised. From then to this day, the family feud which resulted continues to plague God's people.
At times, God may need to remind us that He alone is God and He alone knows what is best for us. Gd is not looking for man's ability, but is looking for vessels through which He can do even the impossible. Just as we should not think too highly of ourselves, we should also not think too lowly.
Being "in my place" means that I am a redeemed child of the Most High God and a member of the Body of Christ. It means I should be able to speak to a mountain and by faith have it moved and cast into the sea (Matthew 21:21). It means I have been given authority over all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19). It means that the power of God is available to flow through me, casting out devils, healing the sick, and showing forth miraculous signs and wonders to confirm His word (Mark 16:17-18).
Yes Lord, put me in my place.
"Our Place in Relation to Each Other"
There is also a "place" we are to have in relation to each other. There is a place for men, a place for women, and a place for children (I Corinthians 11:3; Titus 2:2-8; Ephesians 6:1; Colossians 3:20).
There is a place for each individual member of the Body of Christ (Romans 12:5) and even a place for church leadership (Hebrews 13:7, 17). Why? Because God's people are also a family...His family. For there to be a "place" for each of us means that there must be an order which God has established. We see this order in creation, in the family, and in the church.
"God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land." Psalm 68:6
A family is not a solitary unit. In God's family - in fellowship with other like-minded believers - we find freedom from demonic hindrances. Only those who are rebellious prefer to stay on their own, with no living water to satisfy the soul. Such is not the place God would have for us.
As members of the Body of Christ, we are called into communion with each other, in service and care towards one another (Galatians 5:13; I Corinthians 12:25). We are endowed by God with spiritual gifts to unify, edify, strengthen, comfort, perfect, and when necessary, even rebuke each other (Romans 12:6-8; I Corinthians 12:4-31; I Corinthians 14:3-31; Galatians 6:1-2; Hebrews 10:24-25). As each living stone is set in place, we create a spiritual house for God to inhabit, becoming visible representations of the wisdom & power of God (I Peter 2:5; Ephesians 2:20-22; 3:10-11).
Yes Lord, put me in my place.
"Our Place In this World"
"For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring." Act 17:28
Being "in our place" also brings the comfort of knowing that there is a specific place for each of us, here and now. The Lord God who created the universe - in doing so - carved out a special place just for you. This is not merely a place where we exist, but where we fulfill what we were created to be.
We don't have to wander aimlessly or wonder endlessly, searching to find where we belong or what we are to do with our lives. The meaning for our lives is revealed to us in Christ. Before we were even conceived, God had the plan for us (Jeremiah 1:5).
Even though God has designed a place in this world for us, He is clear that this world is not our home (Hebrews 13:14). This is not a "best life now" scenario, but it is a still place where every need is promised to be met (Philippians 4:19). In fact, Jesus told us that those in Him would not fit into this world at all and would be persecuted as outcasts (John 15:19), while still being overcomers through it all (I John 5:5).
Just think about it. The One who created you and who knows you better than anyone else has designed the optimal life for you...but how many ever receive it? How many people waste their God-given potential and talents daily - never finding peace, joy, or purpose - because they never find who they are in Christ? Instead, they waste their entire living seeking the approval of man.
I do not want to live one day coming short of all that God has for me.
Yes Lord, put me in my place.
"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." John 14:2
Being "in our place" also means having a place of eternal rest set aside for us by Christ. It is the assurance that - although this life is temporal- we have the gift of eternal life in Him.
When this life is over, we do not mourn as they who have no hope because we know that we shall be with Him. We will see him face-to-face and forever be with Him in glory.
Yet this is the kicker. If we do not have our eye single on eternity now, we will never find "our place" in relation to God, in relation to others, in this world, or after this life. In fact, not having our mind set on eternity will leave us distinctly out of place and altogether lost.
We are to have a certain "looking for a city whose maker is God" such as propelled Abraham to endure in the faith (Hebrews 11:8-10). Not focusing on the cares or allures of this life, but counting it all dung as we look for and hasting to the coming day of the Lord (II Peter 3:11-12; Philippians 3:8). This will only happen as we see ourselves in the eternal place God has for us.
"And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:6
As has been said before, "Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people." Now is the time to prepare for now is the day of salvation.
Yes Lord, put me in my place.
A Place of Order, and Thereby Rest
Don't get distracted by what is going on around you, no matter how chaotic. Some people get offended at the thought that there is a "place" they are supposed to be. Yet God has a place for every person who gives their lives to Him.
May we each strive to enter and abide in that place of rest in God which He has designed especially for us.
Yes Lord, put me in my place.
I second your prayer. The distractions of this life (good and bad) really do seek to move us out of place. I want Him to put me in my place IN Christ - with eyes on eternity, as you said.
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