Life requires movement. Some of us don't get this and many of us wish it weren't so. But, nonetheless, life is designed to be lived and moved into on a daily basis. Life that is vital, vibrant and healthy often moves seemingly at the speed of light. For instance, today is our oldest son's 13th birthday. It is hard for me to believe because I remember the day of his birth as if it were yesterday. The road(s) that has taken us from there to here has been one of perpetual movement and vitality! In fact, from the very earliest moments of life, we humans begin to move! It starts of course with our mouths, responding to the stimuli our brains give us telling us that we are hungry - we obey and scream to high heaven until someone feeds us. And, you know as well as I do, life just speeds up from there. One day you’re changing diapers, the next day your buying size 10 shoes wondering: 'how did all of this happen?' And then you realize it. Movement has been occurring all along, taking you and your family along with it at literally a 'break neck' pace!
Movement is more than just a common human experience, it is a theological truth. We, as believers, are pictured in the Bible as 'sojourners,' i.e. people on the move. This world, we read, is not our home. We are on a journey to the world God has created for us in Christ and as such we are always moving toward that reality. On this grand journey home to Him, however, He has left us 'on mission!' His mission for us is to actively move or engage in His interests in this world on a continual basis! Yes, you and I are not only moving toward our ultimate home, we are also called to movement as we follow Him into our world on a day to day basis.
This is a tougher reality for you and me to face, because we often get frustrated by, in and through our daily world. We wonder when the economy will bounce back, or when our boss will get some sense, or when the weather will cool down, or when . . . You get the picture. We get frustrated, we feel slighted and this leads us to think, to begin to believe, that it is okay if we just stop moving. We start to view life as if we were sitting on the couch in our home watching it on television. It is almost as if we are participating in it, but not quite. As inviting as this may be, it is not an option for believers! You and I are called to live a life with God's interests in mind and to lean into every opportunity that He gives us when it comes along - no matter what it may require of us or how difficult it may be! If we are going to 'go with God' then we cannot stay where you are!
A central component of all this movement that life (and God) requires is the component of 'calling and vocation' that we are focusing on this month! As we explore 'vocation' we will be challenged and encouraged to 'move' into our vocation in all its various forms and to recognize that as we do we take the presence of Christ with us wherever we go. We become His image bearer in an idol worshiping world! Over the next week, maybe two, we will un-package several areas of vocation. Let me remind you of one definition for vocation that I have come to lean on - vocation is a 'calling,' it is the way that God works through human beings on this earth. If God is going to work through us, then He will move us into those places with those peoples at those times that He requires our service! Where is that for you today?
See you Sunday!
Biz
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