IT’S YOUR DESTINY!
By: Rev. J. Loren Russell, BA, MDiv
Numbers 23:19 (NLT)
“God is not a man, so he does not lie.
He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act?
Has he ever promised and not carried it through?”
What the Lord has promised, He will deliver. It has been given to you as your inheritance! You were destined for greatness! The only thing that stands in the way of your receipt of this great inheritance is you. This inheritances wasn’t given to you because of your family heritage. It wasn’t given to you because of your pedigree. This inheritance was given to you by God himself because He had it to give and He chose you (John 15:16 NLT – “You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name).”
It was 21 years ago on August 2nd that my oldest brother, Leonard “Lenny” Russell, transitioned from time to eternity. It was a bitter sweet day, as you can imagine. All the protective and nurturing qualities of a big brother, a great sense of humor and an infectious personality made him someone that everyone wanted to be around and nobody wanted to see go. His death was a bitter pill to swallow. But it was also sweet.
I’ll never forget the moment he gave his life to the Lord. It was about five years prior to his transition that he walked down the aisle and gave his hand to the Pastor and his heart to the Lord. When I asked him what made him do it, he said “John 15:16! When I read that verse, I knew that it wasn’t about the things that I had done, it was what the Lord had done. He chose me!” It wasn’t his family history, his pedigree, or his good works. It was a gift that he dared to grasp, it was favor that he accepted as his destiny. He became an ambassador for Christ. When it was time for him to become a child of eternity, he was surrounded by loved ones. It was bitter sweet for us all, but the sweet has kept a smile on our faces and joy in our hearts all of these years. I was convinced then even as I am convinced now, that Lenny lived out his destiny and received his inheritance. As a child of God, he got his mansion not made by human hands, eternally his in heaven. Lenny lived his destiny and received his inheritance.
Don’t be afraid to be who you were destined to be. The fact that you have been chosen shows that you deserve it! Receive it; use it to edify others; inspire them; encourage them. They have an inheritance also that they are entitled to, but they may not get it unless you get yours. Don’t be afraid to stand out, to stand up, or to be seen! You have been chosen! You have a destiny! Now go! Be blessed! And be a blessing! Live your destiny and you’ll receive your inheritance!
Be Blessed +++
Rev. J. Loren Russell, BS, MDiv is President/CEO of The JLR Company, and an associate minister at both Goodwill and Greater Universal Baptist Churches in the Bronx.
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