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LENTEN DEVOTIONALS 2018

Day 40 - Sunday, March 25

Posted by Pastor Bob Bipes on

Cornelius answered: "Four days ago I was in my house, praying at this hour, at 3 in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me and said, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.' So I sent for you immediately.  

Acts 10:30-33

I have never had a vision, seeing an angel as Cornelius describes, but there have been times when I have felt I needed to stop in at a certain home, with no specific knowledge of a need, and found a family dealing with fresh bad news or in need of comfort and counsel. It has happened often enough to convince me it was not a coincidence, but God moved me to meet these people’s needs. Pastoral calling has always been an important part of my ministry. Perhaps that has made me more attentive to that urging. God has a way of letting us know what He wants from us, if we are sensitive to his nudging. I can't tell you how He is nudging you. For some it could be a dream or a vision. For others it may be like a thought that pops into your head, and you can pursue it or ignore it. You can ponder the idea and evaluate whether it is really from God or not. Some have gone off-track following their noses, so to speak, thinking it is what God wants. But don't assume it is not from God either, without prayerful thought.

Over the years I have heard the stories of second career pastors. Many of them have struggled, or resisted the call to become pastors for some time before they gave in to the call. It isn't easy to tackle a new career and put your family through the upheaval of quitting a good career and going to seminary, living on a slimmer budget during that time, but God can be as stubborn as you are, until you decide to follow His calling.

There may be other calls you are getting that are not so all consuming as the call to be a pastor. But God can be persistent. You can resist him, and I've heard stories of people who have felt a call to ministry, but could not see their way clear to follow it. Many of them have been active lay leaders in their church and a good Christian witness in other roles, but for some I detected a bit of regret that they did not become pastors.

So what is God asking of you? Has He got a new place for you in the work of His mission in the world? We can serve God by how we do our work, through our relationship with family, through church activities, and through community causes and projects. We can live out our discipleship in many ways, and find our place in long or short term projects or causes. Listen to your inner urgings or quiet urging to see if it is a call from God or not. If it is from God, you surely don't want to disappoint him and miss out on an opportunity to experience his special blessings.

Prayer: Dear God, our Loving Guide, help us tone alert and open to the guidance you give us through your Word, and also those special nudges, large or small, that we may sense from time to time. In Jesus name I pray.  Amen

 

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