pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: calling


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He Is Calling

The message of the gospel is for all people.  In His role as the Good Shepherd, Jesus cares for all of the ‘sheep’ in the world.  In today’s reading Jesus says there are sheep in the ‘other flock’ as well.  They too must become part of our flock.

Society has changed over the last fifty years.  For the most part we have lost the neighborhood church or parish.  Most people drive in to the church from their homes in neighborhoods spread out all over town.  In our community people drive past several other churches on their way to their church.  Often people are drawn to a church by denominational ties or because of a friend or family member who already attends that church.

One of the negatives to the community churches that dominate today is the reality that most churches have lost touch with their actual neighbors.  Churches in general minister to the flock that is already inside the walls but struggle to connect with the ‘other flock.’  Those outside the walls of the church physically and spiritually are the ones Jesus seeks too.

As followers of Jesus we are called to a mission and purpose.  We are called to share the love and light of Christ with the lost sheep, many of whom are our neighbors.  The message of the cross is too powerful to keep to ourselves.  As the sheep already in the flock, we know the voice of the Good Shepherd.  Can you hear His voice calling us to reach the least and the lost?  Can you hear His voice calling us outside the walls of our churches and into the lives of the ‘other flock’?  Can you hear the call to share the good news?  He is calling.  Will you follow?

Scripture reference: John 10: 15b-18


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Answering As Mary Did

Advent has an “almost there” quality to it.  On the top level we are almost to the day we celebrate the birth of our king.  The day of Christ’s birth is the day that so much promise is fulfilled.  It is the beginning of the era in which we now live.

We are also “almost there” – almost to the end of the story.  On this deeper level, the day of Christ’s return has never been closer.  As we go through our daily life, it should reflect our hope and vision of His return, of a restoration of all things.  The call to be prepared should echo in how we choose to live daily.

On the deepest, most personal level, are we “almost there” in answering how Mary did?  We all hear God’s calling to us.  In His call upon our lives, are we ready to answer as Mary did: “Here I am, let it be according to your word”?  If so we must be prepared for amazing and awesome, because that is the kind of God we serve.  May we all live each day into the power and will of God, answering the call as Mary did, with hands and feet willing and a heart wide open.

Scripture reference: Luke 1: 26-38


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In Each Moment

Shortly after Christ’s death and resurrection, the believers starting asking “When?”  As in, when will Jesus return?  The early thought was that He would return in their lifetimes.  It turns out ‘soon’ is longer than 2,000 years!!

Paul’s response in 1 Thessalonians still applies today as we are still waiting: what does it matter?  He tells them (and us) to live as a child of the light and nothing else matters.  It is still true today – if we are fully living out the faith that Christ calls us to, then “when” doesn’t matter.

But we like to procrastinate, don’t we?  Live fully for Christ each moment of the day?  I can start that next year or maybe the year after that.  Yet the reality is that the only time that we are guaranteed is right now and we’re not even sure we will make it through the day.  So why wait?  Paul tells us that Jesus will come like a thief in the night, at an hour unexpected.  The only way to be ‘ready’ is to live each moment like it might be our last – loving God and neighbor with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Scripture reference: 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-5