“Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him.” (1 Cor. 7:17 ESV)
Yesterday, I posted that if Tim Hortons truly cared about their customers, they would close their doors, and today they announced that on Monday they will be closing all their stores. Does this mean that the powers that be at Tim’s are reading my blog? Only God knows. [Turns out, it was a hoax news article.*]
Now on to today's post.
I received a message today that one of the members of my church is being taken to the hospital. The family has been called in (including the daughter who is also a member). My heart aches as I cannot be there with the family. The pain is deep, for this is what I’ve been called to do – to comfort those in need. I now reflect on my calling of preaching on Sunday mornings, teaching Sunday school, facilitating small group Bible studies, and leading prayer groups. I have been called to counsel those in need, be with those grieving, and console those who are hurting. My call has been interrupted – or has it?
As I reflect on my call, I realize it goes much deeper than the things I do. God has called us to be beings, not doings. It is who we are that defines us, not what we do. This call of mine intersects with every call that is on every child of God. Each and every one of us has an identical call – a twofold call. First, we are called to use this incredible gift of life to worship Him. He who has given us this incredible gift is worthy of all praise. Second, we are to use this life to share the Gospel (the Good News of the Christ). These are the callings on the children of God. This is what it means to be: to understand that our calling is to worship God and to share the Good News about Him. How we DO it (individual calling) looks different for each of us.
This is what it means to be: to understand that our calling is to worship God and to share the Good News about Him.
My calling (during this period of isolation) has changed. I no longer find myself behind a pulpit, or in my home teaching the Sunday school to teens, or at the church leading a Bible study and prayer team. I no longer spend a portion of my week preparing a sermon and planning a Sunday morning service, or attending meetings, or …. But, I am still called to use this gift of life to worship God and share the Good News. I can no longer DO as I have done, so the question is, What now?
I have two incredible tools at my disposal. One is the computer/internet. I have used it in ways I have never used it before.
I now write a blog. I have never been a very good writer, but this allows me to stay connected with the congregation (and possibly Tim Horton executives?).
Yesterday, I was in an online meeting with over one hundred pastors, sharing some of the ways we are staying connected with people.
Yesterday, I had a video chat with our Rwandan missionaries who were planning to be at our church on April 19 (which probably won't happen in this season).
The second tool is my phone. I have gone old school with this incredible device – I call people. Phones, mostly used to access the internet and to message people, can still be used to actually talk to someone! I recall an old Bell ad that used to be on TV many years ago. It encouraged people to “reach out and touch someone” by making that phone call. We are beings that require touch, yet we can no longer visit for that special hug, or hold that hand in comfort, but we can still reach out and touch someone. Let’s follow the example of Stevie Wonder and call someone, even if it’s just to say, I love you.
“And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.’” (Mark 16:15 ESV)
[*This post was updated March 31, 2020.]