07/28/2021
As Christians we often ask God about our calling. We ask about what it is, how we can remain in obedience to Him in it, and in our daily prayers we ask what the Lord would have us do today. Our individually tailored calling, and His will for us are coupled tightly together, and both have one thing in common… they involve winning, and working with, souls for His kingdom. We might be called to be pastors, build cathedrals, or simply to witness to the poor, but however grand, or meager, God will place us in His service.
“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Matthew 4:19 KJV
As I was reading my devotional this morning I read something written by Andrew Murray, a powerful preacher, that I had always thought was true, but had never expressed; I read that even pastors were meant to witness, and minister to souls individually. Listen…
“Everywhere there are souls in need of help. Eminent ministers and evangelists agree that it is not so much in preaching of the Word, but in work for individual souls, that the best results are to be found.” - Andrew Murray
Today we will each get an opportunity to do some manner of spiritual work for a person that has to do with their salvation, or life of faith. We might have a Gospel Conversation with someone who needs to hear the good news of Jesus Christ, or it might be helping a more mature Christian see the hand of God, or the abiding of Jesus, in their life. We might comfort a person who is suffering, or define the source of joy in another’s life.
“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”
Matthew 5:4 KJV
Although extremely important, not all work for God is done by gathering His flock together, or initially bringing a soul to know Him through Jesus Christ. Much of our work for the kingdom of God is done by tending those sheep that have already been gathered together. Jesus taught this to Peter by telling him to not only feed His lambs (the young of His flock), but also His sheep…
“So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”
John 21:15-17 KJV
So there are times when we speak of Jesus with someone who has not heard the good news, but hungers to know Him, and there are times when we feed the flock that has already been gathered, but there is one more way we serve Jesus; we go after the sheep that have lost their way.
“What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.”
Luke 15:4-5 KJV
We each have a calling, and it might be to preach sermons to the millions like Billy Graham did, to build awe inspiring cathedrals around the world, recast global religious view like Martin Luther, or it might be to heal and feed the needy like Mother Theresa was called to do, but within each of these grand callings there are amazing and humble ministries taking place for God’s kingdom; they are humble, personal and intimate in nature, and they are just as power filled as those grander callings… they are God’s daily will for us. I wonder how many times that one of these men or women, whose calling was so amazing in nature, prayed their daily prayers and were told to sit down with a single soul and talk to them about Jesus, to hold a particular Saint in a comforting embrace as they wept in mourning, or to speak with a solitary saint who had lost their faith?
There are many, but the Lord deals with each of us as if we were the only man or woman on earth, and this is how we are to take time from the greater will that God has for us so that we can minister to the one, the lost, the suffering. Will we take a moment in our prayers to not only ask what God’s Will is for our life, but also for the next few hours of our day?
“Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.”
Luke 12:6-7 KJV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the will you have for our life, and the greater image of it that you share with us, but we thank you just as much for the humble desires you have for us as we breathe in and out your name each day within that life. What is a cathedral, a sermon, or a food pantry, without that first soul you call to it? Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who makes the first to be last, and the last to be first. We praise you for the magnificent design you have for our lives, but we praise you equally for the tiny sparrows we help along the way. You are merciful Father, and help the rich and poor, strong and weak, and the lettered and unlettered among us. Help us, and bless us Lord as we love one another as you love, and make us obedient as you call each of us to do your will in both our life, and the next breath, the next little while. Wash us clean of our sins with the blood of Jesus, and send us into the world to do your will regardless of its scope. Teach us to be humble in all we do, and give us an ear to hear the sighs of mourning, and the shouts of praise, alike. Let our lives be transformed into the image of Christ so that we too might sit at your right hand on that faithful day.
Rich Forbes