Wednesday, December 18, 2024

11/01/24 BEING TRUE TO OUR CALLING

11/01/24 BEING TRUE TO OUR CALLING

One upon a prehistoric time (already you know it is a fairy tale), there was a missing link (I told you so) who had some really good ideas about organizing the local gatherers into a community (a concept that was not yet known).

He envisioned a new form of cave, which would be fashioned out of wood or stones (rectangular stones would be great, but no one knew what bricks were). He had a design for moving water from the river to the new caves, and a plan for disposing of human waste. He had other ideas, but first things first.

SO, all he had to do was get the help he needed from the locals to clear land, chop trees, mover stones, build wooden caves, dig trenches to carry water and waste.

He could instruct his force of artisans and craftsmen and laborers and "gophers," if only they would do the work. Little did they know that with their participation would come personal growth and development.

However, the first thing was to get the locals to "see" his vision of the future. He held meetings and seminars and discussion groups and conferences. He even tried to put his thoughts into a musical format (whatever that was). He drew pictures on the wall. He made miniature models. He told how a community would improve life for his local friends, and how it would actually improve the lives of their neighbors on the other side of the forest and across the pond.

People started to agree with him. They thought it would be a good idea to improve their lives. But only a few were actually willing to invest their time and abilities.

A small community did rise up, but most of the locals continued in their primitive ways, and even the ones who participated settled for only personal life changes. The near neighbors and the distant neighbors could just struggle in their old ways. The newly organized people benefited but they were not even willing to tell others that they could move into an easier and healthier and more productive way of life.

This little story is not about saving ourselves from sin. It is about entering into a new life through Christ and the local church, and making that new life available to others. Sadly, very few people want to rise above their spiritual circumstances, and few of those folks are willing to do the work to recruit and "organize" other people into a community of believers.

A war cannot be won by a general, if he lacks the foot soldiers. A ball game cannot be won by a coach who has no players. A community cannot be built if there are no laborers. A world cannot be evangelized if there are no believers who are willing to do the work of evangelism and edify fellow believers.

God has provided the plan, the abilities, the opportunities. Sometimes it is a simple matter of following a ministry blueprint, but it also develops into a dream, a mission, a path of fulfillment.

Even in the realm of teaching, training, communicating, people with limited and varied abilities, skills, talents can become channels of light and truth to near neighbors and distant regions. But it takes time, energy, and a confidence in the leadership. God not only planned this project, He provides qualified and gifted leaders, shepherds, pastors/teachers.

If a person does not use what God has given them, it is not likely God will add to their treasure chest of skills and opportunities. God gives to us, so that we will give to others.

Paul said that we are debtors to other people. We owe them something. God has entrusted us with the gift of salvation for other people.

It is accurate to say that God builds His church, but it is also accurate to say that Christians are coworkers together with God. God not only shares the work, He assigns the work, enables the workers, sets the agenda, and holds us accountable for our service or lack of service. 

1 Corinthians 3:9-17
9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.