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Like most Christians, I've attended a lot of church services in my life. In most of the services I attended in my youth, the congregation was free to "mind the Lord". Of course, that led to some abuses but, also, led to some interesting things. In one such service, an elderly lady was testifying. As she testified, she began walking from person to person, shaking each hand. This wasn't necessarily unusual, especially for her or for our church. She was revered (and still is even though she has passed to a better life) and no one thought anything out of place for her doing this. As you might imagine, it turned into quite a lengthy testimony and she shook many hands as she spoke. Toward the end of her testimony, she finally got to me as I sat in the front pew (she had already gone around the church). She took my hand, stopped her testimony, looked me squarely in the eye, and said, "God has a great work for you!" She, then, wrapped things up by shaking a few more hands and sat down.
I was probably around 15 years old at the time. To this day, I have never forgotten those words and I don't think anyone has ever said anything to me in my life that has had the long-term effect on me that her words did on that Sunday evening.
What a great thing it was to find out that there is a purpose for me, that God has a reason for my life, that He can use me to accomplish a great task, and that He is very aware of my existence. On many occasions, I vividly remember sitting in church, wondering just what I was doing here? I had been a Christian since the age of 8 and wondered if attending church services was all there was to this Christian walk. "Is this all there is? Is this all that's expected of me? Is this all God wants from me, to attend as many services as I can?" were questions common in my thought life. I never said these words out loud, but I thought there had to be more than this. Everyone seemed so content that I thought something must be wrong with me. Why wasn't this enough for me? Why was it enough for so many? I didn't have the answer, but I appreciated and hung onto those words uttered by that elderly lady.
I have come to realize that I'm not just some special case. I believe God has a great work for everyone. I also believe that many are dissatisfied with mediocrity in their Christian walk. I've run into hundreds of people who, once, attended church but have, since, stopped. I think many are looking for something more. They, too, think something is wrong with them because others seem so content. I wonder if people are content, though. It may be more a case of not knowing what else to do. As one man said to me when I mentioned that all we seem to be doing is attending services, "What else is there?" Hmmm…..indeed.
Does God have a great work for you? Do you ever wonder what you're supposed to be doing? Do you sense life slipping by while your purpose goes unfulfilled? Are you confused? Have you ever wondered if this is all there is? Do you long to make a major contribution in God's kingdom? Do you long to have an eternal consequence on the lives of others? Do you sense that there is a much bigger picture than the one you are seeing? Are you running in circles trying to be obedient to God? Are you tired of having no direction? Do you feel that your gifts and talents aren't being used?
I've spoken with several pastors about this very thing, that people want to be about the Father's business and are looking for their place in His kingdom. I believe God has a great work for you. Now, if you can just figure out what it is. I'll try to give more guidance in our next newsletter. Right now, I just want to acknowledge the questions and let you know that you are not alone. One of our greatest desires is to help people find their calling.
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