12-14I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.
15-16So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.
I turned 35 this month and I am 100% committed to a vocation I'm still learning about . . . changing the world. Once you do a bit of it, it's really addictive.
I am an academic advisor as a full time job to support my family. I also have a part-time job as adjunct faculty for a University for extra money and I love teaching. I have a pastoral role to my house church community and network. I am a husband, father, son, brother, neighbor, friend, boss, citizen, mentor etc. to others. But all of these roles fall under my big picture, umbrella vocation of changing the world. I think I am here in this realm to change and be changed. To myself be transformed into the image of Christ and in turn work at changing the world to answer Jesus' prayer that "your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven". That is a really big idea.
I think one of our issues in humanity (in the church and outside of it) is that we have small ideas about ourselves and our world. We serve little gods, we aspire to small ideas, we dream small dreams, we liimit our expectations to what we know. But a life wrapped up in the worship of the One true God brings you to a different place altogether. A place where you see outside of yourself, you see the world as God sees it and you begin to dream bigger dreams. It is time with God that feeds my vocation to change the world. He is utterly amazing and fills my soul with such life, I wish I spent more time in His presence.
But be careful. To get wrapped up in the vocation of God requires everything. Literally, everything. Death can't be a barrier, comfort can't be a barrier, personal status can't be a barrier, suffering must be embraced, accusations must be expected, rejection must be acceptable and so on. But as you dip into his life, you find more life and it is completely addicting.
This Christmas I worship at the feet of the One who came and called me to bigger ideas for me and my world. On the day I die, may I be found faithful to the vocation of God.
peace to you and a Kingdom Come,
1 comment:
Challenging words as usual, bro. I receive them as a gift -- a reminder -- that, as I have grown to have disdain for much of what is promoted as "big" in the church (and purposely tried to avoid it) I have lost focus of and avoided God's bigger picture. Best Christmas gift I have so far this year. I'll let you know if it stays on top after I see if I get that new surfboard:-)
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