I love basketball!

I love all its dynamic movements — the flow and pace, the rise above and floor burns below, the east/west and north/south that’s constant, the attacks and counterattacks, the hands and feet always at work … and heads always on a swivel.

The ball in the air and ball on the deck blend so well. Artistry and adventure get baked in everywhere. Yes, I love all the actions in this game. All of it!

What actions do you love about this game … or any other sport?

God is about action too. He wants us to behold the big, beautiful moves He makes. So many are directed toward us. Notice three big ones expressed in today’s Scripture.

GOD SETS APART. Author Paul said that God set him apart from birth. That means his story and God’s are connected. It suggests Paul’s life purpose was established right from the get go.

That’s the way God operates. We cannot know our purpose apart from knowing our Creator. He created us on purpose for a purpose. Our story is first found in Him. So let’s love knowing that God sets us apart. We are not nameless, numberless, missionless, purposeless with Him.

GOD CALLS. He declares our purpose. He invites people to go on mission with Him. He beckons us to join Him. His calls are holy, unique, specific, personal. All His prompts are designed to bring us fulfillment and Him glory.

Love His words. Love His whispers. Love His Word. They faithfully call.

GOD REVEALS. He reveals much, especially Jesus to us, and then Jesus in us. Our truest identities and highest purposes are found in Him. Destiny, meaning and mission all get clarified in Christ — His story in us, our story in Him. This is how it all comes together. God sees to it.

When we see Jesus well, when He is revealed to us for who He really is, we see ourselves way better, more completely. And by Him, we see everything else as it really is. God turns on the lights in Jesus. Love living in this light.

These are three actions God wants us to see emanating from Him: setting apart, calling, revealing. Knowing this adds such meaning and purpose, direction and design to our lives. May we see it like Paul and rejoice.

Reflect: Has God’s action of setting you apart impacted your life, your story? Has He called you? If so, to what? Has He revealed His Son in you? Has it made a difference? Are you fulfilling the purposes for which you’ve been created?

A prayer to consider: LORD God Almighty, I love seeing Your actions in this world and in me. Thank you for setting me apart and writing Your story on my heart. Thank You for calling me to high purposes and revealing your Son to me, in me. It makes all the difference in the world.

Help me fulfill your purposes and keep finding my story in You. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.