We pay the price!

Jonah willingly paid the price of his fare, so that he could sail to Tarshish. In a similar way, when we choose to run away from the Lord, we also pay a price.

"But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord." - Jonah 1:3

The price we pay for our disobedience to the Lord can range from, the consequence of our sin, becoming fearful, a lack of peace, dis-contentment, hardness of heart. 

In my opinion, all of our choices include some kind of cost - it is just that disobedience has a high cost than following the calling of God.

Thought: Can you think of a time when you deliberately ran away from God's plan for your life? What price did you pay?

Living in Grace

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Please send someone else!

When God called Moses to serve him and to go and speak to Pharoah, Moses sheepishly asked the Lord to send someone else.

¹⁰ Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”

¹¹ The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? ¹² Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

¹³ But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”  -(Exodus 4)

In a way, Jonah did the same thing. When God called him to go and preach to the Ninevites, Jonah ran in the opposite direction. You can read this story in chapter 1 of Jonah. 

So, what about us? When God calls us to a task that seems bigger than our abilities, how do we respond? What do we say?

Living in grace

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Getting onto the streets

I am grateful for the challenge that comes to us from these words of Dallas Willard. In his work, The Spirit of the Disciplines, he says:

"Holiness and devotion must now come forth from the closet and the chapel to possess the street and the factory, the schoolroom and the boardroom, the scientific laboratory and the governmental office.

Instead of a select few making religion their life, with the power and inspiration realised through the spiritual disciplines, all of us can make our daily lives and vocations be 'the house of God and the gate of heaven,' 

I can - and must - happen."

I have had many conversations with Christ-followers wrestling with a sense of calling. Their initial thoughts are always drawn towards fulltime ministry, because this is what we have led people to believe "serving God" looks like. However, God needs his home to be set up in all places and all over the world. 

So, if you are feeling prompted to serve God in some way, my first comment would be: Love God and Love People, where you ARE at the moment. I bet that there are people in your community who need to experience the love of Christ today. 

Matthew 28:18-20 - "Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.” (The Message)

Living in grace

D3LM3

 

A true show of commitment

This past weekend I had the privilege of being part of the Ordination service for all new Ministers in the MCSA. This service marks the end of a long journey of preparation for each one of them, some being close on 9 years in the making. While the Ordination service is not the culmination of their ministry, it is a real affirmation of their gifts and calling. 

What struck me again was the level of commitment it has taken for these men and women to get to that moment. They have had to go through ups and downs, trials and triumphs, tears and laughter. So, the inevitable question arises:

Are we prepared to commit to Jesus Christ and to gear up for the long haul? What prevents us from staying the course?

"His (God) love is not a passing fancy or superficial emotion; it is a profound and unshakable commitment that seeks what is best for us." - Billy Graham 

George Barna wrote on the present state of the American church: "we are willing to expend some energy in religious activities such as attending church and reading the Bible, and they are willing to throw some money in the offering basket, but when it comes time to truly establishing their priorities and making a tangible commitment to knowing and loving God, most people stop short."

Living in Grace

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Your Burning Bush Moment

Have you ever had a burning bush moment?

I am assuming that if you said 'Yes', that it didn't really involve a burning bush, but something that God used to get your attention? I have had a few moments where God has stopped me in my tracks. The real challenge comes in how we respond to these moments. Are we attentive? Do we draw closer to God or are we tempted to turn away in fear?

Read through the story in Exodus 3 again:

One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. 3 “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.”

4 When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!”

“Here I am!” Moses replied.

Questions:

1. Did you notice Moses' response to God's call?

2. What had happened to Moses prior to this moment? Do you think he felt worthy of being called?

3. If God were to 'draw you closer' what would make you stand up and pay attention?

Living in Grace

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On Assignment

Whether we realise it or not we are all busy on some assignment right now. Yes, that includes you too! It may not seem like anything official, but we could be working on the assignment of:
career, parenting, retirement, recovery, serving, helping, studying, planning, praying, loving.
Being on assignment can mean a range of things for each one of us - the important thing to remember is WHY you are busy on this assignment and for WHOM are you so busy.

Peter was very clear on his purpose and that is why he wrote:

"I, Peter, am an apostle on assignment by Jesus, the Messiah, writing to exiles scattered to the four winds. Not one is missing, not one forgotten. God the Father has his eye on each of you, and has determined by the work of the Spirit to keep you obedient through the sacrifice of Jesus. May everything good from God be yours!" - 1 Peter 1:1-2 (Message)

Just reading these words from Peter I am also greatly encouraged by the words:

"no one is forgotten..."
"the Father has his eye on you...."

Living in Grace
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My calling, your calling

We catch ourselves often wanting to be someone else. We even begin to think that what they are doing, is perhaps what we should be doing. However, in the end, we will make ourselves frustrated and dissatisfied. Your calling, is not my calling. If I live my life trying to fulfil what God has given you to do, then I am going to become very grumpy.

Listen to the words of one of Mother Theresa's biographers:

"The call to change political structures or seek justice, though recognised as valid, was not hers. Hers was to deal, one by one, with those whose horizons had shrunk to the bowl of rice they craved. Those seeking to understand were put to work because "love was best proved in deeds"..."

So, if you would like a little advice. Stop trying to be someone else. Be yourself. Use your God-given gifts and stop wishing you were someone else.

Psalm 139:14 -  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Living in Grace
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Send someone else!

There are a number of people in the Bible who were a little overwhelmed by God's calling on their lives. Jonah, Gideon, Moses - they all asked God to send someone else in their place.


"But Moses again pleaded, "Lord, please! Send anyone else." — Exodus 4:13

It is good when we realise that we can't do everything in our own strength and that we need God to get us through each situation. However, it is NOT good to ignore the unique calling God has placed on your life. 

One is an act of humility, the other is an act of disobedience!

Living in Grace
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Ordination - 10 years on

I was reminded today of our Ordination service, which took place on this day in 2006. In our Church system (at the time) we were Ordained 5 years after beginning our training, although I had already served for 5 years as a Youth Pastor in Bryanston, Johannesburg.

For Kim and I, our ministerial training involved serving in the Church Street Methodist Community in Somerset West (2002), while studying part-time in Plumstead. Then we moved to Pretoria for a year of Academic studies, where I finished my outstanding academic work (2003). From the city of Jacaranda's we were sent to the Umvoti circuit, where we served in the town of Dalton for 3 years. After our Ordination we moved to Pietermaritzburg, where we have been serving at Wesley Methodist (Hayfields) for 10 years.

As I reflect on nearly 20 years of combined ministry, I am grateful for all that God has done for us and for how he has led us. I am grateful for the support of my entire family and my friends - without their encouragement I am not sure I would be where I am today. All in all, I am most grateful for the presence of Christ with me, where-ever I go.

My challenge for us all today is this: "Don't be afraid to say YES to the call of Jesus. We don't know where it will lead us, but it will certainly be a huge adventure."

1 Peter 2:21 - To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

 

Living in Grace

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Responding to a Call

“There is no greater calling than to serve your fellow human beings. There is no greater contribution than to help the weak. There is no greater satisfaction than to have done it well.” - Walter Reuther

I have been thinking long and hard this past week ... (hope you haven't seen to much smoke coming from my little brain) ... about the issue of 'Calling'. What does it mean for us to be called by God and where will this lead us? 

In a simple way, I see that God calls us to follow him (Mark 1:17) and then also to be willing to share in His work on earth. This 'second' calling will be different for each one of us, but I strongly believe that each one of us is given something to do for God. It is a wonderful privilege to be in partnership with our Lord, as he seeks to renew our communities. 

So, what has God called you to do? Are you willing to step out in faith and follow His lead?

Let me know what you feel on this topic.

 ·      Ephesians 4:1 – “As a prisoner for the Lord then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”

Living in Grace
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Calling...

What's your calling?

Is it to help others or to serve people in your profession? 
Is it perhaps to use your gifts to bless others or to help the needy?
Do you see your calling to be the best you can be, no matter who or what stands in your way?
Do you think that your calling is still unfolding for you at this moment?
Could you calling be to love your family in the best way possible?

I strongly feel that each one of us has a calling and that we need to be fulfilling that calling in order to sense that we are in the will of God. Otherwise we will keep feeling frustrated and empty.

Oswald Chambers wrote these words on what he felt was a calling:
"Our calling is not primarily to be holy men and women, but to be proclaimers of the Gospel of God."

This calling would then include all of us. If we aimed to proclaim the Gospel of  God (which is about being redeemed by a loving Saviour) then we would want to move towards the Holiness of God.

"A calling is something you feel - you look out and see the need - maybe it's the need for the poor, to help poor people. Maybe it's the need to get involved in the race problem, as Martin Luther King was - he felt called." - Billy Graham

So, let me ask you again - what is your calling? Are you living it out in your life now?

Living in Grace
D3LM3