“But to the tribe of Levi, Moses had given no inheritance; the Lord, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as he promised them.” (Joshua 13:33)

One of the things that I’ve enjoyed as my relationship with Jesus has grown, is learning more and more about how He’s uniquely designed me to serve Him.

Chapters 13 through 21 in the book of Joshua specify how the conquered land was to be divided out to the Israelite tribes. In studying the actual characteristics of the land given to any particular tribe, it’s interesting to see that the land often reflected the blessing Jacob had given to each of his sons. In other words, the land wasn’t allotted in a haphazard manner, but in a unique, orderly, and purposeful way.

In verses 14 and 33, we find that the tribe of Levi did not receive a particular plot of land like the others, as their tribe was chosen and dedicated to serving God and the people in a certain way, through the maintenance of the tabernacle (Deut. 10:8-9).

So too are each of us uniquely designed and set apart by God to carry out a specific work for Him. From my natural disposition to my physical traits to the gifts and talents He’s given me to the areas of service that I gravitate towards– I’m finding that each of these has a specific purpose in each season of my life.

And I apologize if this seems like a self-centered post, as that’s not my intention. God, being our Creator, in all of His infinite wisdom and brilliant ingenuity, is the focus. He is the Potter and we are the clay– we are simply the work of His hand (Isaiah 64:8) created to carry out the purpose for which He formed us. Made in the image of God, man and woman are His beautiful creation, and to Him goes all the glory!

Understanding that He has created each of us in His own image, we must also understand that He has intricately designed each of us to be unique and special. God refers to us as being ‘eklektos’, a Greek word translated to mean ‘chosen’ or ‘elect’. We were made the way we are for a purpose, and that is to bring Him glory by the way we love Him, love others, share His gospel, and make disciples.

There are dozens and dozens of verses in the Bible that speak to God creating us and setting us apart for His works. Just to name a few:

Psalm 139:13-14 says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

Isaiah 64:8 says, “Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.”

Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

For those of you who are wondering if there’s more to the life you are living today, there is! For those of you who don’t feel particularly gifted or called in any way, you are! For those of you who feel like God has forgotten you or made a mistake in the way He created you, He hasn’t!

You have been designed by your heavenly Father in a way that connects you to the body of Christ and places you into this world, in a way that only you can be. We are but individual members who come together as His church for the glory of His Name.

Like the tribes of Israel, we are all called to inherit and carry out certain plans and purposes that God has created us for. Through the reading of His Word and through diligent prayer, He will reveal to you both the common and distinct things He is calling you to accomplish as His child.

Be encouraged brother and sister in Christ… He delights in you, as you are the work of His hand.