God wasn't necessarily interested in my plan, because He loved me enough to show me His.
When I hear the phrase, "What on earth are you doing?" I am reminded of my childhood, because I got into a lot of things that would justify that phrase from my parents. I did quite a few bizarre things growing up: jumping off the roofs of houses for the fun of it, driving my dad's John Deere bulldozer around the houses on his subdivision (at age 6), cutting my two younger sisters' hair to my delight, hooking up my sleigh on the back of my brother Alvin's truck and being pulled around town late at night (I only got "pulled over" by the police once).

There was also the time I was 15 years old and in the Christmas parade. I was in the Boy Scouts and was given the privilege and responsibility of carrying the America flag to lead the parade. At this time, the parade route went from one end of town to the other—approximately three miles. I was out in front, carrying the American flag, so proudly leading the entire parade. Well, at the halfway point, our town had a red light, which was the main intersection.

As we neared that red light, there was only a police car about 30 feet in front of me, and the red light beyond that. At that point, a thought began to turn in my partly renewed, teenage mind. The thought was, "Instead of going straight through the red light and continuing on the parade route, why don't you make a left turn?" I knew the rest of the Scout troop would follow me and it would cause a chain reaction through the parade participants. To make a long story short, I chickened out at the last moment. About twenty-two years have passed since then and I know people would have still been talking about it today had I done it, and the main question asked that day would have been, "What on earth are you doing?!"

Recently, I heard that phrase come to me again. Not from my mother or a teacher. But from my heart. Let me explain. A few months ago, I was meditating and heard that come up out of me. I realized immediately that it had a different meaning than how I heard it growing up. This time it was the Lord expressing it to me in a spiritual connotation.

I realized, with a clear perspective, that the Lord had placed me on this earth for His divine purpose and I had to ask myself, What was I doing about it?

In all reality, I thought I was doing okay. I was traveling around the United States to churches and overseas to Bible schools, ministering the Word. I had written a book that was blessing many people, and trying to witness more than I had in years. I felt I had matured much, both mentally and spiritually, since my younger years. So what was the deal? I knew the scriptures about presenting my body unto God a living sacrifice, and about not being conformed to this world, but being transformed (Rom. 12:2) and how I was bought with a price and was not my own (1 Cor. 6:20).

It started about a year ago when the Lord spoke to my heart and told me: "It's time you stopped building a résumé." The Lord showed me my heart in a moment. I was getting caught up in accomplishments...keeping my itinerary full, making contacts with pastors and other people, going out, doing things and stamping it with the name of Jesus. I thought it was all good, but I had the cart before the horse. God wasn't necessarily interested in my plan, because He loved me enough to show me His (which was a lot better than mine).

I found that my life is much better now because I came to realize the His yoke is easy, and His burden is light (Matt. 11:28-30), and without Him, I can do nothing...that counts! (John 15:5). I was doing all these things for God and not obeying what He really wanted me to do. It wasn't enough to confess that "I was in the right place, at the right time and doing the right thing." I had to be sensitive to the leading of His Spirit, to show me "what, when, where and how." Remember, "A man's mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure" (Prov. 16:9 AMP).

I knew when I was younger that I was called to the ministry. But no matter what a person's occupation is, he or she still has a job to do for God. The scripture doesn't say, "And these signs shall follow them that are preachers." It says, "And these signs shall follow them that believe. In my name, shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover" (Mark 16:17-18). We all have been given a ministry—the ministry of reconciliation.

But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation—that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him."
(2 Cor. 5:18 AMP)

Regardless of your age, it wouldn't be a bad idea from time to time to ask yourself, "What on earth am I doing for God?"

Jesus knew why He was sent here (John 3:16) and knew "what on earth" He was doing. You can see this demonstrated through His life:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
(Luke 4:18-19)

Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
(John 5:19)

Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but His that sent me.
(John 7:16)

And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.
(John 8:50)

I must work the works of hHim that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
(John 9:4)

I am glad the Lord dealt with me about what I was doing here, and needed to do, on earth. Because, "Except the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; except the Lord keeps the city, the watchman wakes but in vain."
(Ps. 127:1 AMP)

We, as the body of Christ, all need to get back to where we are obeying and doing the will of God for our lives. That way, the next time someone comes up to you and asks, "What on earth are you doing?" you can honestly respond like Jesus did in Luke 2:49 and say, "I am about my Father's business."

Todd Bailey Ministries
All rights reserved. Used by permission.