"Personalised" faith

The one who had made the promise was trustworthy. (Hebrews 11:11)

What gets you out of bed every morning? When motivational speakers and vocational counselors ask this question, they’re not looking for answers like “The baby was crying” or “My alarm rang.” They want to help you identify your “passion”—something you love (or would love) to be doing with your life, the purpose that fires you with energy.

Certainly, Abraham wasn’t searching for his passion on the day he rolled out of his blankets and started traveling to a distant promised land. He had found his passion! Or rather, it had found him. Out of the blue, a God he didn’t know promised that he would have “descendants as numerous as the stars” and would become a blessing for “all the families of the earth” (Hebrews 11:12; Genesis 12:3). Yeah, right! he could have said. Now that I’m seventy-five and Sarah is sixty-five, we’re going to go wandering into the unknown and have a baby? I don’t think so! But, remarkably, Abraham believed. And day after day—despite failures and setbacks, despite the twenty-five-year wait for Isaac’s birth, despite the fact that he never saw the promises completely fulfilled—Abraham kept believing.

How did he stay so focused and energized? By staking his life on the fact that he had a call from God and that “the one who had made the promise was trustworthy” (Hebrews 11:11). That’s how our faith and passion for God grow, too. It’s not enough to agree mentally with the Creed when we recite it on Sundays. Important as that is, faith can grow only in response to a personal call from a God we come to know in a personal way. Without this personal encounter, we won’t find the motivation to put our faith to work [emphasis,mine].

So ask yourself: Have I heard Jesus calling me? Do I know what he wants me to do and to be? If not, am I seeking him out? If yes, how am I responding? 

And tomorrow when you wake up, before your feet hit the floor, thank the Father for his wonderful purpose in creating you. Tell Jesus that you want to follow him more closely. Ask the Holy Spirit for a holy “passion” for the rest of the journey.

from wau.org

You, the Sower

The sower sows the word. (Mark 4:14)

Perhaps when you read or hear this parable, you focus on the different kinds of soils, or the environments on which the seeds fall. Maybe you even wonder which one of these soils best fits you, and you hope that you are like the good soil that produces abundantly. But how about seeing yourself as the sower instead? Maybe it’s worth considering how much God may want you to sow the seed of his word.

If there is one word that characterizes the sower in this parable, it is generous. This fellow spreads his seeds everywhere. He doesn’t seem all that concerned about where the seed will fall. He simply casts it to and fro.

Isn’t this a great image for how we should view evangelization? Shouldn’t we be generous, almost indiscriminate, in the way we share God’s word and his promises? We really shouldn’t worry about where the seeds may fall or the “soil quality” of those with whom we share the word. Whether, in our judgment, the ground is hard, weedy, thorny, or fertile shouldn’t matter. After all, it is the Lord who gives the growth, not us (1 Corinthians 3:6-7). All we have to worry about is sowing as generously as we can.

Think for a moment how many other seeds the world, the flesh, and the devil are sowing all around us. There’s nothing stingy in their tactics. How much more, then, should we counter all these poisonous seeds with the seeds of the gospel! The need is great, so don’t be intimidated! And by all means, don’t feel defeated or outnumbered! God has promised to be with you always as you spread his word.

So how are you going to sow today? What opportunities will you seize to spread the seeds of the gospel? They’re all around, after all. Keep your eyes open, as you ask the Lord to help you see ways you can creatively witness to his love. Who knows? He may even give you brothers and sisters in Christ who are just as zealous as you to proclaim the word, in season and out!

“Lord Jesus, make me a generous evangelizer and sower of your word in all kinds of soil. Fill me with zeal and courage to go forth and spread your seeds all over the world!”

from wau.org

Up to us to respond

Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted, and they came to him. (Mark 3:13)

“Who? Me? I can’t do that!” How many times have you heard comments like this, or even made them yourself when you were called upon to take up an important but daunting task? Don’t you think that the twelve men Jesus called to be his apostles had some of those same feelings? It was still early in his ministry, and they knew he was special. But they still had no idea just how important he was.

This Gospel reading tells us about three important things that happened. First, Jesus decided who he wanted for his ministry. He had many followers, some of whom were probably more qualified than these twelve. But he chose these men anyway. Next, Jesus summoned them. They didn’t volunteer; they didn’t run for election or ask for special positions. Jesus chose them. And lastly, they responded. They must have felt honored being selected, but at the same time must have wondered, “What am I getting myself into?” They had seen Jesus heal the sick and cast out demons, but none of them had done these things themselves. And still, this is what Jesus called them to do. He knew that, left to themselves, they were incapable of fulfilling this call, so he gave them his authority.

We can be encouraged by the legacy of these apostles—and all those who came after them. Like them, many of us wonder why God calls us to serve him in a particular way. And like them, we should all remember that we are a “chosen race … a people of his own” (1 Peter 2:9). He has summoned us to the mountain. Now it is up to us to respond.

Believe that God has planted seeds of greatness in you. He has summoned you. Now it’s up to you to respond. Know that he will equip you with everything you need. Step out in faith as the Twelve did. You are capable of serving Jesus in ways that you have not imagined because he will empower you. Remember, the Lord doesn’t call those who are equipped. He equips those who are called.

“Lord, give me the courage to say yes when you call and to believe that you will provide the wisdom, strength and ability to do your will.”

from wau.org

walking in authority

He taught them as one having authority. (Mark 1:22)

Mark tells us that Jesus’ authority astonished those who heard him. It amazed those who witnessed what he did. Even though they didn’t understand where the authority came from or how Jesus got it, they couldn’t deny it. Were they awed by his command over the unclean spirit? Probably. But the people were also surprised. Jesus taught in a way that produced something new in them. Perhaps it was hope or reassurance, release from guilt or eagerness to know God more.

We tend to think of authority as the right and ability to enforce rules. What is remarkable is that the things Jesus speaks with authority about are things he wants to create and build up in us. Not mere lofty goals we reach for endlessly but qualities, characteristics, and desires that he himself will help us adopt.

Consider, Jesus says you are … 

… Safe—“I give you eternal life, and no one can take you out of my hand.” (John 10:28)

… Known intimately—“Before you were born, my eyes gazed on your unformed substance. I know you inside and out, exactly how you are made.” (Psalm 139:12-16)

… Chosen—“I chose you before the foundation of the world to be with me forever.” (Ephesians 1:4)

… Treasured—“Even if a mother should forget her child, I will never forget you.” (Isaiah 49:15)

… Empowered —“You can do all things, for I will strengthen you and give you the wisdom and power you need to do what I call you to do” (Philippians 4:13)

All these statements are true about you. Let Jesus speak these words, in all his authority, to your heart today. Let these words shape the way you relate to the people around you, too. For the more you know how important you are to the Father, the more you’ll see how important everyone else is—and the more you’ll begin to treasure them.

“Jesus, open my ears to hear you, and my heart to be amazed and astonished as you teach me of the life you have for me.”

from wau.org

Looking forward- 2015

The Lord bless you and keep you! (Numbers 6:24)

A young boy returning to school after the holidays was asked if he liked his new class. “No,” he answered. “There must be something you like,” his parents prodded. “Nothing.” “Can’t you think of one good thing?” “Leaving at the end of the day” was all he could muster.

Sometimes we are like that young boy; we’d rather stay in the past than move forward to an unknown future, even if that future is full of potential. The Israelites acted no differently during their journey to the Promised Land. Scripture tells us that they complained often, even wanting to return to slavery in Egypt. So God sought to encourage them, as we see in this beautiful prayer of blessing.

What did this blessing mean for God’s people? Well, it wasn’t a guarantee of automatic victory over all their enemies—but neither did it require them to be perfect. No, it was an indiscriminate blessing, meant to tell the people that God would be with them no matter what they faced.

We too are on a journey, and as this new year unfolds, we will undoubtedly meet with good fortune as well as challenging obstacles. But no matter what comes our way, one thing will be constant: God’s blessing. In victory or defeat, in confidence or instability, we can still know our Father’s presence, his wisdom, and his guidance.

Mary is a perfect example of one who relied on God’s blessing. When a sword pierced her soul at Calvary, when her Son was ridiculed and beaten, and even when he ascended to heaven and left her alone, Mary remained full of grace because she continued to trust in God’s providence. So as this year opens, choose to be like Mary, and surrender yourself to the Lord. If you look closely enough, you will find God’s blessings wherever you go!

“Father, I dedicate this year to you. I trust in all the blessings you have in store for me.”

from

wau.org