Called
August 28th, 2008
Scripture:
“And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house. You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious.” Ezekiel 2:6-7
“And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house. You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious.” Ezekiel 2:6-7
Observation:
God is calling Ezekiel as he calls us to seek the lost. Many times he calls us out of our comfort zones to introduce the lost to this life he so freely offers. Regardless of the situation, the environment or the rebellious nature that we encounter, we must remain strong and focused on what God has called us to do.
Application:
I can remember being small and sitting in church and actually hearing God’s voice as he planted the seeds of my calling into ministry in my heart. I actually remember thinking that women don’t preach and that I must be crazy. For years and years, each Sunday I would sit there and feel God as he moved in my spirit and yet I remained firm in “my plans” for my life. After 3 degrees and many jobs in various professions, I finally surrender to God’s will for my life. It was in the fall of 2004 when I was approached and told that God was calling me (ME, ME of all people) into ministry. My initial response was to laugh but as I began to process this information, I was quickly reminded of the seeds that he had planted so many years earlier. My friends and family were skeptical (as was I) about this choice but I knew, with such certainty as never before, that God was calling ME and He had been calling and NOW was my time to take that leap of faith. I had anxiety, hesitations and fears as I started on this new path but I also knew that I was called by God and he always provides if we just have the faith to take that first step. Ezekiel’s call serves as a reminder to what God called me to four years ago. He called me out of my “norm” to speak his words to all. This passage affirms that the job won’t be easy and there will be thorns but I must press onward. God seeks faithful witnesses to share His Word. He knows our audiences will be stubborn and refuse to respond and He doesn’t require large number of converts as our result. He simply calls for faithful devotion to the task he has given.
I can remember being small and sitting in church and actually hearing God’s voice as he planted the seeds of my calling into ministry in my heart. I actually remember thinking that women don’t preach and that I must be crazy. For years and years, each Sunday I would sit there and feel God as he moved in my spirit and yet I remained firm in “my plans” for my life. After 3 degrees and many jobs in various professions, I finally surrender to God’s will for my life. It was in the fall of 2004 when I was approached and told that God was calling me (ME, ME of all people) into ministry. My initial response was to laugh but as I began to process this information, I was quickly reminded of the seeds that he had planted so many years earlier. My friends and family were skeptical (as was I) about this choice but I knew, with such certainty as never before, that God was calling ME and He had been calling and NOW was my time to take that leap of faith. I had anxiety, hesitations and fears as I started on this new path but I also knew that I was called by God and he always provides if we just have the faith to take that first step. Ezekiel’s call serves as a reminder to what God called me to four years ago. He called me out of my “norm” to speak his words to all. This passage affirms that the job won’t be easy and there will be thorns but I must press onward. God seeks faithful witnesses to share His Word. He knows our audiences will be stubborn and refuse to respond and He doesn’t require large number of converts as our result. He simply calls for faithful devotion to the task he has given.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to always remember what you called me to do. Give me courage and strength to carry out this task and stay focused on your will and not on my environment. Lord, give me the words and use me as a vessel for your kingdom. You Lord, are my God and my Father and all that I desire to please, so use me today.
Lord, help me to always remember what you called me to do. Give me courage and strength to carry out this task and stay focused on your will and not on my environment. Lord, give me the words and use me as a vessel for your kingdom. You Lord, are my God and my Father and all that I desire to please, so use me today.
— Tiffany Fennell, preschool minister, Madison campus