Over the years, I have had several occasions when I stood at the crossroads of career. I may be standing at one such place at present. Should I leave or stay at the current employment? If leaving, should I go to A or B? Where is God's will? How do I know where He wants to take me? These are all questions that arise, when standing at the crossroads.
The questions and answers are similar to what would be asked and answered when asking oneself about one's ministry. All Christians are to do works of service (Ephesians 4:12), so that the body of Christ is built up. While the main work of service by Christians is to preach the good news about Jesus Christ the Savior (Matthew 28:18-20), there may be different ways that different people may go about doing it. Each Christian, I think, needs to find his or her ministry field and target and serve that person or people.
The first step in finding one's ministry target or deciding on a career choice may be to look for people in need, for whom one has compassion. During His public ministry on earth, Jesus began each work with compassion for the people in need. When He saw the crowd that followed Him to the countryside near Bethsaida, He had compassion on them and healed them (Matthew 14:14). After healing the multitude on a mountainside, Jesus had compassion on them, who had been with Him for three days and had nothing to eat (Matthew 15:32). He then proceeded to feed the four thousand. When two blind men cried out to him near Jericho, He had compassion on them before opening their eyes (Matthew 20:34). Likewise, I should look for people in need, for whom I have compassion.
The second step may be to learn to discern which need God wants me to minister to. It may not be that all needs that I have a compassion for are needs that I am equipped to address. If it is a need that God wants me to work on, then He will have also provided the means with which to meet the need. "We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us." (Romans 12:6). There are different kinds of gifts, different kinds of service, and different kinds of working (I Corinthians 12:4-6). The Holy Spirit gives out different gifts to different members of the body of Christ, so that each can fulfill his or her function. If God wants me to do A, He will have equipped me for that service or work. If God wants me to do B, then likewise He will have equipped me for that service or work. So, the discernment about which need God wants me to minister to is really a discernment about what God has equipped me to do.
If I choose the right ministry and the right service, the proof of the right choice may be in the fact that ministry or service opportunities will be effective and multiply. People in need which you can meet will come to you -- maybe in droves. Jesus never advertised on TV or Internet, but the news about Him and His ministry spread to the whole countryside and people came to him in flocks (Mark 1:32-34, 1:45, Luke 4:14, 7:17). If I am in the right service or ministry, then there should be confirmatory messages from people with the same or similar needs.
One note of caution here may be that I should be careful to watch for any creeping in of my sinful desires trying to influence my choice -- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (I John 2:16). These will cloud my mind and mislead me, so that I end up laboring on what does not satisfy (Isaiah 55:2).
Lord, I want to hear You and follow You. Lead me, so that I may truly live and "delight in the richest of fare." Lord, freely pardon all my pursuits of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life -- none of which are truly satisfying. My true delight is in You, Lord. Make me a witness to the peoples. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Seeking God's will
In Exodus 18, we read an account of Jethro's visit with Moses. Jethro was Moses' father-in-law and brought Moses' wife and children to him. During the visit, Jethro observed that Moses was taking his seat to serve as judge for the people, who came to him with disputes to seek God's will. There were hundrends of thousands of Israelites and just one Moses to let them know of God's will. Jethro suggested that Moses should appoint capable men to become judges of tens, fifties, hundreds, and thousands and people should only bring to Moses difficult cases that could not be judged by the officials of tens, fifties, hundreds, and thousands. Moses took up the suggestion and did likewise.
In order for this new system to work, Moses had to do a few things first. First, he had to teach the people God's decrees and laws that told the people how to live and the duties they are to perform (v. 20). Second, the officials that were chosen were to be God-fearing, trustworthy men who hated dishonest gain (v. 21). Then they could decide simple cases (v. 22).
I wonder if this is the same way God lets His will known to us. For simple things, we can decide based on God's revealed laws and decrees in the Bible, acting in God-fearing and trustworthy manner without seeking dishonest gain. God has given us (Christians) mental faculty to do that much. We can decide whether to eat spinach or cabbage, as long as not in excess or gluttony. We can decide where to stop to fill the car with gas. We can decide to favor one clothing over another, as long as not being licentious. We do not have to wait to hear God's specific instruction each time we do such a simple task, because He has given us instructions on how to live dutifully and harmoniously. We should still pray and seek to stay God-fearing and trustworthy in all matters, simple or difficult.
I remember my childhood days, when I would stop to pray after every move of playing marbles or anything else. After each play, I would crouch and curl up to pray briefly. I do not remember exactly what I said in prayer. I might have prayed to repent about any evil thought that might have entered me since a few seconds ago and to be better henceforth. As I got older, I stopped doing that. I am not sure if I could have continued it and maintained a "normal" life. That probably was not what God would have demanded of me. I think a certain amount of exercise of judgment and discernment based on what I have learned of the Word of God is allowed.
On the other hand, as Israelites did even after appointment of officials of tens, fifties, hundreds, and thousands, all "difficult" matters are to be brought to God to seek His will.
What are the difficult matters for which I should seek a clear revelation of God's will, in addition to mere application of what I already know as the revealed truth of the Bible? Biblical examples abound. First, David was a man of God, who endeared the Word of God as sweeter than honey and more precious than pure gold (Psalm 19:10) and probably meditated on it day and night (Psalm 1:2). He prayed to the Lord all the time and was in close touch with Him. Yet each time he faced a difficult situation, he asked the Lord. Any major question of coming or going was directed to Him. For example, David inquired of the Lord on whether he and his men, who were chased after by Saul, should go to Keilah to save it from the Philistines (I Samuel 23:1-2) and whether to leave it afterwards when Saul was coming after them (I Samuel 23:11-12). Second, the Apostles inquired of the Lord before selecting Matthias to replace Judah as one of the Twelve (Acts 1:12-26). Setting apart Barnabas and Saul (Paul) for the work of evangelization was done at the specific direction of the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:2-3). Any major selection of people for God-appointed tasks needs to be inquired of the Lord. Third, I take a lesson from the mistakes of Joshua and the Israelites in entering into an oath with Gibeon (Joshua 9). Because Joshua and the Israelites did not inquire of the Lord (v. 9), they entered into a treaty they should not have. I should seek God's will before any treaty, agreement, or commitment.
God is my Father (Romans 8:15). As a father of my three children, I take delight when my own children ask for my advice. I think my heavenly Father will also take delight whenever I inquire of Him on what I should do. Yes, He has given me some wisdom and discretion and has even put His laws in my heart (Jeremiah 31:33). Yet I remain clueless without His guidance and direction. I need His guidance and direction in all phases of my life.
Heavenly Father, I want to stay in close contact with You. Forgive me of all my sins and cleanse me, so that I may hear You. Give me clear directions on all matters that affect me -- what I have to do for myself, what I have to do for my family, what I have to do at work, what I should do and be in all facets of my life. Father, I cry out to You to lead me, so that I may follow You. In Christ's Name. Amen.
In order for this new system to work, Moses had to do a few things first. First, he had to teach the people God's decrees and laws that told the people how to live and the duties they are to perform (v. 20). Second, the officials that were chosen were to be God-fearing, trustworthy men who hated dishonest gain (v. 21). Then they could decide simple cases (v. 22).
I wonder if this is the same way God lets His will known to us. For simple things, we can decide based on God's revealed laws and decrees in the Bible, acting in God-fearing and trustworthy manner without seeking dishonest gain. God has given us (Christians) mental faculty to do that much. We can decide whether to eat spinach or cabbage, as long as not in excess or gluttony. We can decide where to stop to fill the car with gas. We can decide to favor one clothing over another, as long as not being licentious. We do not have to wait to hear God's specific instruction each time we do such a simple task, because He has given us instructions on how to live dutifully and harmoniously. We should still pray and seek to stay God-fearing and trustworthy in all matters, simple or difficult.
I remember my childhood days, when I would stop to pray after every move of playing marbles or anything else. After each play, I would crouch and curl up to pray briefly. I do not remember exactly what I said in prayer. I might have prayed to repent about any evil thought that might have entered me since a few seconds ago and to be better henceforth. As I got older, I stopped doing that. I am not sure if I could have continued it and maintained a "normal" life. That probably was not what God would have demanded of me. I think a certain amount of exercise of judgment and discernment based on what I have learned of the Word of God is allowed.
On the other hand, as Israelites did even after appointment of officials of tens, fifties, hundreds, and thousands, all "difficult" matters are to be brought to God to seek His will.
What are the difficult matters for which I should seek a clear revelation of God's will, in addition to mere application of what I already know as the revealed truth of the Bible? Biblical examples abound. First, David was a man of God, who endeared the Word of God as sweeter than honey and more precious than pure gold (Psalm 19:10) and probably meditated on it day and night (Psalm 1:2). He prayed to the Lord all the time and was in close touch with Him. Yet each time he faced a difficult situation, he asked the Lord. Any major question of coming or going was directed to Him. For example, David inquired of the Lord on whether he and his men, who were chased after by Saul, should go to Keilah to save it from the Philistines (I Samuel 23:1-2) and whether to leave it afterwards when Saul was coming after them (I Samuel 23:11-12). Second, the Apostles inquired of the Lord before selecting Matthias to replace Judah as one of the Twelve (Acts 1:12-26). Setting apart Barnabas and Saul (Paul) for the work of evangelization was done at the specific direction of the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:2-3). Any major selection of people for God-appointed tasks needs to be inquired of the Lord. Third, I take a lesson from the mistakes of Joshua and the Israelites in entering into an oath with Gibeon (Joshua 9). Because Joshua and the Israelites did not inquire of the Lord (v. 9), they entered into a treaty they should not have. I should seek God's will before any treaty, agreement, or commitment.
God is my Father (Romans 8:15). As a father of my three children, I take delight when my own children ask for my advice. I think my heavenly Father will also take delight whenever I inquire of Him on what I should do. Yes, He has given me some wisdom and discretion and has even put His laws in my heart (Jeremiah 31:33). Yet I remain clueless without His guidance and direction. I need His guidance and direction in all phases of my life.
Heavenly Father, I want to stay in close contact with You. Forgive me of all my sins and cleanse me, so that I may hear You. Give me clear directions on all matters that affect me -- what I have to do for myself, what I have to do for my family, what I have to do at work, what I should do and be in all facets of my life. Father, I cry out to You to lead me, so that I may follow You. In Christ's Name. Amen.
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