A Simple Equation
I have met many new people in the past few days. It is uncanny how so many of them are so cool. Not like leather-jacket wearing, piece-of-hay-in-the-mouth cool but just real people who I have been able to connect with. In one conversation I had, the discussion of the call of God came up. I have always struggled with this topic and yet in this quick conversation, I was amazed by the simple equation given to me.
The proprietor of the simple equation is a man named Shane Duffey. I expressed a discontented attitude towards the call of God mentioning that I had even written a research paper on Isaiah’s call, Where’s My Call? Shane told me that in his opinion, the calling of God is very simple. It is this: C=B+O, or Calling equals (no, not body odor) Burden plus Opportunity.
I reflected on my past and the burdens that I have had. There seems to be a thread of continuity in my recent past (~five years, or so) where I can see a burden ebbing through my life. This burden is one that constanly changes — life circumstances, things I have learned, people I meet — these all modify the burden to some degree.
Yet in all these years, the opportunity has not been there. I have never been satisfied with the opportunities that present themselves. In most cases, no opportunity at all appears. I see now that this is a test of patience and a test of the burden itself. The Psalms repeatedly tell us to wait for the Lord, e.g.
Psalm 27:14 — Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; Wait for the Lord!
Psalm 31:24 — Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord.
So we wait for the Lord and courageously challenge the burden. Is it real? When the time is right, I am convinced the opportunity will present itself. Then we can know that we have been called by God. The next step, of course, is to answer that call.
What is your burden? Is there an opportunity presenting itself? If so, might I suggest that you jump in with everything you have and commit completely to that opportunity.
Oh, the CALL OF GOD.
God’s calling is always there. From the time we exit the womb God’s word is all around us. As we grow from small, wonderful, loving children to young adults to finally grown adults God’s call magnifies in our ears.
I use to think that God’s calling meant I had to go into the ministry and spread the gospel as John did so many years ago. But God’s calling and his words showed me that he calls all men to minister his word, yet in different ways.
Embracing the CALL OF GOD can be difficult as we must give ourselves fully to him. And I admit, I still find that hard. But I know that wherever I go, I take his calling and his words with me and if I am faithful, his words will change someone I touch in a positive manner.
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