Just handed in the book of Daniel with a slight sence of satisfaction I might add. Three more weeks friends. I wish could be updating you daily on all the things God has been doing in my life but 24 hours just never seems to be enough time in the day...
In the past month I' ve been spending a lot of quality time with the prophets, a very radical and passionate group of God followers in a pivitol time in Israel's history. The life of Jeremiah really challenged my definition of what success really means in the ministry. Before he even began his ministry God told him that it would not bear any fruit whatsoever. He was told that he would speak to people and that no one would listen to him, that he wouldn't be able to have a wife or kids, and that he would have to leave his home country to a foreign land. I think I realised how 'results-oriented' I am when it comes to my life. If I don't see tangible progress on a consistent basis I naturally deam myself as unsuccessful. Jeremiah wanted to his people return to God but didn't see not one bit of progress in 40 years of ministry. What really struck me was that he was not concerned with seeing the fruit of his ministry but was so focused on simply obeying God. I think it is possible to be the very best we can be for God and see absolutely no fruit from it.
Some questions I've been asking myself; Do I love God because of what he does for me? What am I hoping to get out of my faith? It seems obvious that as we seek God and trust him that he would give us things right? This shows me the value of obedience no matter what life circumstances im living in.
I think about what this would mean for me....I want to be a musician but what if God called me to China where no one would listen to me but would curse and throw things at me for 40 years? Would I still be faithful to the call God put on my life? This is soooo challenging to me. I want to say that i would serve God no matter what but this just seems a little extreme. Something our school leader said that really struck me was that sometimes we forget that God loves the lost too and wants to see them transformed. If he gives us the vision HE not ME will do it. This should bring freedom. I don't need to worry about tomorrow I just need to obey today.
I think about what this would mean for me....I want to be a musician but what if God called me to China where no one would listen to me but would curse and throw things at me for 40 years? Would I still be faithful to the call God put on my life? This is soooo challenging to me. I want to say that i would serve God no matter what but this just seems a little extreme. Something our school leader said that really struck me was that sometimes we forget that God loves the lost too and wants to see them transformed. If he gives us the vision HE not ME will do it. This should bring freedom. I don't need to worry about tomorrow I just need to obey today.
I just want to report that my english conversation class continues to be a great time. I've been able to take a few taiwanese friends out and speak into their lives and this sunday i'm going to be taking a couple of them to church. Please pray for more of these opportunities in my last few weeks in Taiwan.
I'm really pumped to see everyone at Christmas when I get home. It's starting to get a little chilly here but will be a good warm up for the cold to come when I get back to Canada!
Please pray that I will finish strong and run across the finish line of SBS.
Learning to Love
Jer
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