So today in class westarted reading Thomas Hale's book "On Being a Missionary" and wrote and assignment on what we understand of the "call of God" in our lives. If your interested, here are my thoughts:
I agree with Hale, that there is a specific and general call. We are all called to obey God, following His commandments which are summned up in loving Him and loving others. This “general call” is given to all Christian, and is to be lived out wherever we are.
I understand that God is much less concerned with where we are, than with who we are, and how we obey him. We would do best to fret less on where God is leading us and act on His commandments where we are. Often I believe there is sometimes no wrong or right place to be. We should be seeking God’s best, and it could be that He leaves it up to us to choose, only calling us to obey Him where we are.
I also understand, however, that God does sometimes choose to give us a very specific call. I understand the “specific call” to mean God directing people to a certain place, or area of ministry. Many missionaries can testify as to how God called them to a specific country, language, position or people.
This call is sometimes abrupt and distinct, like Paul’s encounter with the Light on the road to Damascus. Often, though, it is a developing call. God places a “burden” on a person’s heart to go to a certain people, or help with a specific need. Without a specific moment of epiphany, God guides a person with an increasing sense of calling, and grants enough faith to take the next step.
Personally, I understand that I am called to love God and love others, part of which is fulfilling the great commission to “go”. May I never loose this understanding of the very fundamentals. My “specific call” has gradually developed. Reading missionary biographies, praying, and most potently, going to Peru, have been used by God to direct me return to Peru. It’s hard to explain “the call” on my life. I could say I “feel” called, but that sounds mushy, I could say I “sense God calling me”, but that sounds like just a whim. I could say God has “given me a desire to go”, or that He is “opening doors”, (which are both true) but it’s more like a little kid.
I’m walking down the sidewalk holding my Abba’s (Father's) hand, like a kindergarten child walking home from school. What’s most important is that I keep holding His hand. Sometime He doesn’t care where we walk, just as long as I’m holding His hand. Sometimes He leads the way. Though sometimes in our conversation He tells me where we’re going, often I just know, from other things He says, or other people, and the scenery we pass, where we’re headed. I keep asking, am I going the right way? But the question is almost redundant as long as I keep holding His hand.
It is such a beautiful display of the majesty of God. The colors that the camera captured hardly do justice to what we saw. It was like it was yelling out to us how great God is and worthy of all our praises. Sometimes I wonder how we could ever praise God enough, but just gazing at this colorful display I think is an act of worship too!
