Categories: uncategorized
Date: 23 May 2007 12:36:44
Yesterday I received an invitation to a party but had to send it back. I pointed out that I'd love to attend but I thought that the Lambeth Conference was for Anglican Bishops and not Baptists. I'm not even a full time preacher.
FW and I were having a discussion the other day about callings and their validity. I'm something of a Thomas on this issue. I believe that God does call and offer opportunities to us. What I don't believe in is the frequency that some people seem to get them. The slightest encouragement to do what they have been thinking about is seen as a sign.
They're thinking of changing jobs and see one that they like the look of. They apply and get called for an interview. Their thought can be that "if I get this then its what God wants me to do". Somtimes jobs are offered because you are the best candidate for that position and not necessarily as a divine gift.
The problem we all have is trying to understand what God wants from us. We may really, really want to do something and go all out to do it but fail. How can we be sure that we failed because we weren't organised or prepared correctly, rather than failing through divine will.
I've always envied the prophets in the Old Testament. They were given signs and spoken to directly by God. They had no doubt that what they were doing was divine will. Reading the letters of Paul, Peter, James and John also provides the proof that God works that way. The trouble we have is that the airwaves are cluttered. There are so many things going on in our lives that we can miss the one real message among the clutter.
When I was an Air Cadet I loved visiting the air traffic control towers on airfields. You could see the controllers talking to the aircraft that appeared on their radar screens, each identified by a code on the screen. Each one was easily identified. Listening to the conversations between the tower and the aircraft you could easily get confused by the terms and language used.
That is how it can be for Christians as well. We need to practise talking to God and using language that we understand. Likewise we also have to train ourselves to listen to what is being said. An air traffic controller and pilot know what is being said because they use the terminology day after day and, more importantly, pay attention to what is being said by the other party.
I know from experience that we often mishear what others say to us and interpret it in the way that we want to hear it.