Was I called to it?

James 1 (NLT)

5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you.

22 But don’t just listen to God’s word.  You must do what it says.  Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

26  If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.

In light of James 1, today’s devotional from Oswald Chambers (which I just “happened” to read today – not a normal occurrence) really hit me between the eyes.  Read it here.

In case you didn’t, let me quote part of the article:

God speaks in the language you know best— not through your ears, but through your circumstances.

God has to destroy our determined confidence in our own convictions. We say, “I know that this is what I should do”-and suddenly the voice of God speaks in a way that overwhelms us by revealing the depths of our ignorance. We show our ignorance of Him in the very way we decide to serve Him.

Have I been persecuting Jesus by an eager determination to serve Him in my own way? If I feel I have done my duty, yet have hurt Him in the process, I can be sure that this was not my duty.

It’s a solemn reminder to “be still and know that I am God” and to wait on him.  It’s a solemn reminder that every single act of ministry I do, I must be called specifically to do.  I know to often, I jump in without asking if that is what He wants me to do at this time, at this moment, in this season.

Time for a little self evaluation… through His eyes and not my own.

Father, I invite you to inspect my life, my ministry, my motivations.  Show me if anything is not pleasing or not for this time.  If there is anything I have committed to without your calling to, I ask forgiveness and the wisdom to know how to handle it.  In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Irrevocable…

Romans 11:29 (ESV) “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”

“gifts” – charisma - 1 a favour with which one receives without any merit of his own. 2 the gift of divine grace. 3 the gift of faith, knowledge, holiness, virtue. 4 the economy of divine grace, by which the pardon of sin and eternal salvation is appointed to sinners in consideration of the merits of Christ laid hold of by faith. (Rom 1:11; 5:15; 6:23; 11:29; 12:6; 1Cor 1:7; 7:7; 12:4; 2Cor 1:11; 1Tim 4:14; 2Tim 1:6; 1Pet 4:10)

“call” – klesis - basically means vocation and a divine invitation, but comes from the word kaleo, which implies to receive a name or to bear a title.

“irrevocable” – ametameletos - Strong’s Lexicon says “Two occurrences; AV translates as “without repentance” once, and “not to be repented of” once. 1 not repentant of, unregretted.

This is interesting because “to repent” means “to change one’s mind.” It basically means to do a 180 and go the other direction.

Substituting those meanings into this verse makes it read much different.

God’s divine gift of grace – my eternal salvation – and my calling – my vocational call, my title, my position in life, my destiny – if you will – is something that God has given me, granted me and will not change His mind on… ever.

The cool – and freeing – thing to me is that I can’t do anything to “undo” His gift.  I can’t remove myself from his list.  I can’t do anything that will make Him rescind his gift or my calling.  Those things that affect my relationship with Him (sin, unforgiveness, disobedience, etc) can greatly affect my effectiveness in my calling, but it can’t change my calling.

So, how do I become as effective as possible?  How do I walk in and know what my calling is?  That is the question.

Take heed to your ministry

For most if not all of my christian,,,,,,saved life, I have disqualified myself because of my age.  It is something I have struggled with for years.   I  talk with men who encourage me and give me scripture and tell me that, that’s a lie, etc. but it has never really changed me.  I don’t know that’s because I don’t want it to or I don’t trust them…….and that could be a big part of it.  I have a hard time trusting that speak positive things over/to me.   Anyway, tonight I was reading the 1Tim. 4 which is where Father took me to get my next memory verse.  (1Tim. 4 12-16)  HE has taken me to this verse several times, but something about tonight made it different.  It was almost as if HE was saying, “Son you have known it all along, now it’s time for you to step into it and accept/believe it.”  I know HE was going to take me to this verse last week, and I have kinda been looking forward to it.  I Timothy was a pretty cool guy, and these are words that Father spoke to him and is now giving to me.  I guess part of me says,  I’m not good enough,  I’ll never measure up…. I know, I know, but still that’s been the battle.  I have never been good or even enjoyed studying or researching.  But I have always been impressed or fascinated with men who can do that well.  And in 2 Tim. it says to, “study and be eager to present yourelf to God approved (tested by trial)”  I really like that scripture and would love to be eager to present myself to God approved but I really don’t like to study.  However I am seeing that it’s not about be liking to do it.  It’s about HIM commanding me to do so and I (being a good soldier of Jesus Christ) chose not to get entangled in civilian pursuits.  There were some great words spoken over me about a week ago and they had to do with just the very thing.  I think I have run from this for toooo long now, and today I chose to embrace it,,, embrace yes.  If this is what Pappa is calling me to, then I am all in.
I will let no one despise my youth, but I will be an example to all believers in word, conduct, love, spirit, faith, and purity.  Till Jesus comes back, I will give attention to reading, exhortation, and doctrine.  I will no longer neglect the gifts that are in me, with were given to me by prophecy when my men have prayed over me.  I will myself to them that others may see my growth in them.  Because I know that it will be used to further HIS Kingdom.

Thanks Dad.