Gifts & Callings
God is faithful - really really faithful. He is unabashedly extreme in awesome faithfulness. Looking at Isaiah in the mornings, Ezra on Wednesdays, and then hearing Genesis, has been a never-ending supply of God’s true long-suffering with His people.
Before this point I looked at faithfulness as God being patient with one thing, like an area of weakness, or that He will carry you through a specific circumstance in your life. He is and does all of that, but His faithfulness goes so much deeper than that.
Look at the faithfulness of God in Romans 11:29:
I’ve read this verse many times, especially during summer months when the lure of a setting sunset to awaken selfish desires lingers on the horizon. Or when fall leaves dispense upon new soil relinquishing red flames of desire. In apathy and anticipation, this verse comes alive in the peace of His mind.
What I had never noticed before was the middle of this verse. It’s amazing to think that God’s calling is irrevocable - even when we’re stupid and blow it, or when the moss has grown on our legs, or even when our faith is waning. God has a call on our lives that He will accomplish, and nothing can take it away (see Romans 8). This verse is so comforting when my heart aches to be reaching people for God, and it seems like there are no open doors. When discouragement floods into the room there is assurance that we can stand upon the Rock who is higher.
Among Christian circles there is often talk about what gifts people posses. Gifts of encouragement, helps, teaching, evangelism, hospitality, etc, which are all very great and amazing gifts indeed, but it appears that there is more to gifts than acknowledging the Giver. This verse says that callings are at the same weight. So what we are doing with the gifts that God has given is just as important. Are we resting on our laurels, sipping from the nectar of a good life, or springing into the woods of unknown territory?
For now I’ll leave you with Psalm 145 by Shane & Shane:
great is the Lord, so worthy of praise
great is the Lordone generation will
commend Your kingdom
to one another
they will speak of You
and i will meditate
on Your wonder
and they, they will speak
of Your glorious splendor
of Your majesty
everyday i’ll praise thee
forever and evereveryday i will praise
for You open Your hand
and satisfy desires of all things
my God the Kingthe Lord is gracious
and slow to anger
He is rich in love
He is good to allall who call on Him
in truth He is near to
and He hears their cry
and saves them
October 5th, 2005 at 12:55 pm
Thanks Kristen. That was wonderful to read and meditate upon. I wonder how many gifts God has given to each and every one of us that we just don’t see because they will only become apparent when we respond to the call? Sometimes we just have to follow what God lays on our heart and then we find that there’s divine gifting to do it. Whereas our flesh nature would approach things the other way around, i.e. only step into a situation if we already feel able. When we hear God calling and we respond in faith, our faith rises to meet His, and His is infallible. Thanks again for giving me so much good stuff to think about.
October 8th, 2005 at 10:54 am
Thanks Mark! You are such a constant encouragement! :D