Psalm 86:11-13

Teach me Your way, O LORD, and I will walk in Your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name. I will praise You, O LORD my God, with all my heart; I will glorify Your name forever. For great is Your love toward me, you have delivered me from the depths of the grave.



Friday, January 7, 2011

Discerning the Call - Part One (Walking on Water)

Matthew 14:28-29 says, "And Peter answered Him and said, 'Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water'.  So He said, 'Come.'  And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus."  Some people say Peter was acting out of his impulsive nature while others say he was acting out of his faith and devotion to Jesus.  I think it is a little of both.   Peter was being impulsive because he had obviously not thought it through carefully because when he did, his faith faltered but his faith, although imperfect, is evident in that he trusted that it was Jesus and that Jesus had the power enable him to walk on the water.  Peter recognized that he was not the one in charge of water-walking...God is! 

We all have a calling and God is the One who calls.  We cannot choose our calling so how do we know what our calling is?  First, we must recognize that we are a reflection of God's image.  God works all day and we were created to work as well.  (Psalm 104 is a wonderful depiction of what God does each day!)

Second, we must take our calling seriously.  We should all use our gifts and talents to serve God.  1 Corinthians 12:7 says, "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all".  "Arthur Miller writes that this is what lies at the heart of seven-days-a-week faith:  'It is using one's endowed giftedness to serve the world with excellence and, through that service, to love and honor God!'"  We are all on a mission from God.  If God's kingdom is to be manifested in earth right now, it will have to be through us.  Matthew 5:13-16 tells us, "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?  It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.  You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." 

An important question to ask ourselves is, 'Do I take my calling too lightly?'

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