SPIRITUAL COMMITMENT

SPIRITUAL COMMITMENT

 

Can we agree that God is the one and only all powerful, all knowing entity in the universe and that He is our creator, sustainer, provider, and the savior of mankind?

Can we agree that the Bible is the inspired word of God? 

Can we agree that God, through his Holy Spirit is always with us? 

            I recently had a revelation I would like to share with you.  I have been a believer in God for all my life.  I had a good upbringing in a Christian family, but for most of my life my relationship with God was very casual.  Yes, I knew there was a God but, like much of the world I only paid cursory attention to Him until in time of need.  I have had a couple of what I call mountain top experiences when I felt very close to God for short moments in time then I allowed the close relationship to dwindle to a mere acknowledgment of His existence. 

My theory is this:  God put us, you and me, in the current positions we occupy.  Also, God is in charge.  Combine these two thoughts and we come up with the revelation that God has given us a calling just the same as He calls pastors to the ministry and He is watching over us to guide us so that through this ministry we are moved to accomplish His will.  Does this make sense?  By His divine intervention, the will of God prevails.  I believe that He uses people, some knowingly, others without their knowledge to bring about His will for the good of His people.  Let us be assured this is true.  That being the case, God has put us in our current positions professionally as surely as He is responsible for us being on this earth at this time in this place..  Also, God is with us all the time, His Holy Spirit is our constant companion whether we are aware of his presence or not. 

Can we agree that the profession we now have is a calling from God?  If this is true, God put us where we are.  If God put us there and if God is always with us, isn’t it reasonable to assume that He will see us through the challenges of the day?

Throughout the work day we are tossed around from one task to another.  I have heard it said that we are lot like a rudderless boat on the surface of a stormy ocean.  It is tossed around from wave to wave, lost in the tide with no direction.  The boat is pounded from above by the swells that try to swamp it.  But, in the depths of the ocean there is peace, quiet, and solitude.  This is a lot like the love of God.  His love is deep, quiet, and offers solitude.  When we experience the love of God, we can then enjoy the peace and quiet known by only the committed believer. 

If what we are doing professionally is in the service of God and not to man this gives us a whole different perspective on our professions.  This concept, this revelation, changes Monday morning from “Oh my God” to “bring it on.”  The concept is that by serving our fellow man we are doing the work that God has given us, we are serving God.  We can go about our daily business in the comfort and knowledge that God is with us helping us do His work.  He leads us, He guides us and helps us accomplish those tasks He has put before us.

Caleb, as you will recall, was the only Israeli spy returning from Canaan who advised Moses to attack and take the land.  He knew the enemy’s superior strength but he also knew that God was on his side.  God had given him a calling, a job to do and with the knowledge that God was with them Caleb was confident that God would help them accomplish that job.

Experience would teach us that this day is going to come to an end.  Will it be a day of gut wrenching anguish or a day of service to God?  I have had enough anguish, thank you, I will take service to God any day.

It makes us feel good when we serve God by serving others, don’t let your service to God stop at the church door.  Whenever we serve in church by ushering, greeting, or assisting the pastor we should feel good, besides all these positions are fun.  But, let’s remember that when we leave the church and return to our families or professions we are serving God because we are fulfilling the calling God has given us. 

This was such a revelation to me for several reasons.  I have been a supervisor for several years.  Most of my experience in this position has been agony, every day for years I have come home completely exhausted.  I have lost sleep over issues, frequently awaking in the night in a cold sweat over issues.  Issues dominated my life from the time I awoke to the time I finally hit the bed.  Many evenings were ruined because of a tough day or a single disturbing issue.

There are only two things in my work day that are routine.  First is the chaos.  I can leave home each morning in the knowledge that I have no idea what issues or challenges God will expose me to during the day.  But, I can be assured they will be varied and many.  Second, every morning soon after arriving at  work and taking care of a few preliminary details I sequester myself to one of the break rooms.  The odds of being interrupted are slim as most everyone else is at work.   I open my planner, my brain, and prioritize those issues that have arisen in the past and attempt to prioritize them.  I say attempt because I never know which of these past issues will arise as a priority at any moment of the day in the form of a phone call or a visit from someone to my office.  Once I am done updating my planner it is closed and my attention turns to prayer.  I pray for the kids, for Mary, for several friends and special people in my life.  Then I pray for myself, I ask God to take me by the hand and lead me and let me walk in His holy footsteps.  I ask that He surround me with his presence and guide me throughout the day.  I pray that everything I do and say throughout the day will glorify Him.  I have been in this chaotic position long enough that I can no longer survive on my own strength, it is the strength of God that gets me through the day.  Amen.  Then throughout the day I frequently thank God for guiding me.     If I enter into a situation, perhaps a phone call or a meeting that I know could be tense, I pray that He will be with me and give thanks that He is leading me.  This really helps me get through the day.  Amen.

Recently for Father’s Day, Jill gave me a journal in which to write my prayers and thoughts.  On each page she wrote the location of a specific passage of scripture which is important to her.  On the front of the book she wrote from Psalm 5:3  “In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.”

In Philippians 4:6 we read, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Then in verse 7 we read, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding , will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

 The idea is that we know each day will have it's challenges.  We are paid the big bucks to resolve these issues.  Like Caleb we can enter into each day, into each situation, confident in the knowledge that God is with us.  He takes us by the hand and leads us.  He allows us to walk in His holy footsteps and surrounds us with His presence. 

Experiencing the love of God is a  wonderful feeling.  It is so good that you have to wonder how one can experience it and then return to the grind of the everyday world.  Why doesn’t everyone savor the feeling, relish it, and look forward to every day?