Several months ago, I started a habit of keeping at least five “Compassion Bags” in my car for the homeless/beggars along the sides of the roads. Inside my Compassion Bags are anti-bacterial wipes, one-time use toothbrushes, deodorant, hand sanitizer, a couple snacks, and an invitation to church.

I understand I am not the first, or the last, to put these bags together, but something about my last encounter with a gentleman challenged me to be different. As I drove away from him, I realized it would be the last time I would ever be “generic”.

He was standing at a stop-light holding his sign as I reached for one of my Compassion Bags. I pulled up to him, rolled my window down, and handed him a bag. I usually ask for their name and if they know how much Jesus loves them.

The typical responses are, “Yes, I do, thank you! I appreciate it.”

But this gentleman was different.

I asked him his name in which he replied, but when I asked him if he knew how much Jesus loved him, he rolled his eyes and said, “yessss. Thanks.” And walked away.

It was the first time I realized he had probably heard the same old message from everyone else, without it ever penetrating his soul and stirring in him a longing to know Jesus more. Now, telling someone Jesus loves them should always be a priority. However, the purpose of sharing Jesus to a stranger should always be with the intention to show His love in a real and life-changing way so they are compelled to know Jesus on their own. We shouldn’t be sharing Jesus just so we can feel good about ourselves driving away.

When I recognized his annoyance, I was heartbroken. This man had heard “Jesus loves you” tossed around throughout his life, without any real connection to His presence.

I drove off begging God to increase His power in me, “Abba. Never again will I be generic. I know you care more about him than I showed him, and I am sorry. I am asking You to reveal a timely word each time I pass out my Compassion Bags because unless they have a real encounter with You, their lives will never be compelled to change.”

I have talked about living an awkward, powerful life and how to avoid stuffing your life full of meaningless activities so that your life doesn’t become claustrophobic, but if we are really going to step into our Christ-centered destiny, we cannot be a generic Christian.

We have to be a servant of Christ, ready to let go of religious standards and eager to pursue a lifestyle of intentional encounters with Jesus. What does that look like? Let’s start with how we are handling the coronavirus. I know both generic Christians and destiny Christians on a personal level… I am sure you do, too.

A generic Christian panics at the possibility of infection and chaos; a destiny Christian asks God what their assignment is and how to be His hands and feet through the madness.

A generic Christian rushes to the store to buy an over-abundance of food and supplies for their own family; a destiny Christian is more concerned with their neighbors who have no means to buy groceries and supplies for themselves.

A generic Christian eliminates all contact with others for the fear of infection or contamination; the destiny Christian is unafraid to lay hands on the sick for them to be healed.

A generic Christian spends more time learning about the coronavirus and what the world has to say; the destiny Christian spends more time learning about God and what He has to say.

A generic Christian panics at the idea of compromised comfort; a destiny Christian lives with God as their refuge and strength.

A generic Christian trusts the government; a destiny Christian trusts the Lord.

It is evident during this season of world-wide pandemic; a generic Christian’s life looks no different than a nonbeliever’s. Slap the words, “Jesus loves you” onto a generic Christian’s “acts of service” and you may end up with a very annoyed gentleman who has no idea of the abundant life available in Christ Jesus.

For me, I have never felt a stronger passion in my soul to break away from the confinements of instilled fear and live a lifestyle that reflects the powerful, authoritative life of Christ. As a true believer in using wisdom, respecting authority, and being obedient to God’s commands, my life during this season has been overwhelming. I have done my part of washing my hands, sanitizing my fitness equipment, staying home, and postponing the meetings of large gatherings as the governing leadership has advised. However, there is another over-riding authority I have spent the majority of my time with throughout this process—my Abba Father.

I cannot answer for you what His assignment is for you to carry out during this season, but if you want to be a destiny Christian, you have to be willing to surrender your fears and anxieties and devote yourselves to the headship of Christ. This isn’t a time to sit back and assume your purpose and destiny will fall into your lap—it’s a time to take ownership of your calling, partner with the Holy Spirit, and bring the power of the Cross into a frantic and desperate nation. What has God been asking you to do? What gifts, skills, and supernatural abilities has God been preparing in you for “such a time as this”? What type of lifestyle do you want to set the tone for today to live out tomorrow?

For me, I want a lifestyle of “speaking boldly for the Lord, bearing witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by my hands” (Acts 14:3), and I cannot set the tone for a lifestyle of bold freedom in Christ if I am living confined to fear and anxiety within my own home.

I understand this makes some people uncomfortable. My life has made many people uncomfortable… so did Christ’s, and if you want to become everything God wants you to be, so will yours. But, now is not the time to waste away in despair. You were made for a powerful, intentional purpose, and it is by no mistake that you were created for this generation and placed on earth during this pandemic. Get alone with your Savior, discover the assignments He planned out in advance for you to do, and live your life to the praise and glory of God!

You may be called to drive through your city binding the spirit of confusion, fear, rebellion, hysteria, infirmity, and greed. You may be called to deliver groceries to a neighbor or invite them over for encouragement. You may be called to make dinner for a friend or offer to watch their children for an hour or two. You may be called to lay hands on the sick and pray over hospitals and clinics. You may even be called to set foot on specific foundations and reclaim the territory the enemy has been relentlessly trying to occupy. Whatever God is asking you to do, go after it with joy, gladness, and a sincere heart knowing that He who is in you is greater than he who is in this world (1 John 4:4).