Dear Reader,
I can hear Pomp and Circumstance playing in my head – it’s time for graduations! In the midst of excitement, the world bombards graduating students with questions like “what do you want to do for the rest of your live?” Questions like this shouldn’t be asked only of young graduates. We all need to answer this question at different times in our lives.
When I came to WMA, the Lord called me to “serve those who serve the Lord.” This became my mission statement. But this statement was completely different from what I thought my calling was at my graduation. In the past, I “fiddled around with” what I thought I was called to do, never knowing that God had something bigger planned. Through past experiences, God revealed how he wanted me to live my life right now.
It reminds me of Saul, a Roman Pharisee, who sought actively to advance his cause while removing anyone who got in his way. He felt this was his life calling and he “fiddled around with it.” But we know what happened. God changed his name and his direction. Amazingly, Paul became a great advocate for Christ among both Jews and Gentiles – quite contrary to what he originally thought was his life mission.
It’s important to recognize that God is continually equipping His believers. We know we are to be ambassadors for Christ, but how we go about it can change frequently. It is risky to be reluctant or resistant to changes God may want to make in our lives, regardless of our age. It’s also dangerous to lose sight of our current calling. I sometimes need constant reminding that I am serving a God who needs nothing, but who desires my fixed gaze upon Him.
I encourage you to reflect on your past “mission statements” and see how God has brought you to where you are right now. When in life were you “fiddling around” and when were you in the center of God’s calling? In hindsight, see how God has made you a part of His glorious plan for this world! And let us fix our eyes on Jesus; He can be trusted to direct us to be “on mission” for Him.
Proverbs 4:25-26, “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.”
~Sara
6.23.2009
6.17.2009
Spiritual Obesity
Dear Reader,
I recently heard a term for the first time: spiritual obesity. The person who used it said she suffered from spiritual obesity when she was younger. While at church and Bible school, she was being well-fed, but her output was lacking. This was an intriguing concept to me.
We know that obesity occurs when the input far outweighs the output; if you consume many calories but don’t exert anything, you’ll become unhealthy and overweight. I know when my intake offsets my output. I feel sluggish and my attitude has a tendency to be negative. It takes a jumpstart to get me moving again.
We can experience this in our spiritual life: being overfed with knowledge without any exercise of that new understanding. I feel there is a direct link between spiritual obesity and inactivity in the church, community and world. And spiritual inactivity has a way of leading to complaining, gossiping, and indifference. When we have the privilege of breathing in God’s Word, it strengthens us spiritually to share what we have learned with others. What good is it to hear about of Jesus’ life, but not exercise His teachings of humility, mercy, and salvation?
Just as God blessed Abraham in order for him to bring about a blessed nation, we also are blessed in order to serve others. In America, we are blessed with many Gospel centered churches, bible schools and seminaries, and even Bible.com. It is easy for us to be “full” of spiritual knowledge. But it is just as easy not to exercise our spiritual muscles, which is not God’s intention. We, too, have been blessed, not to “sit on” our spiritual riches, but to share them with the world.
I believe God calls us to be spiritually fit. But unlike fad diets or weight-loss pills, this is not a temporary or quick transformation. It’s a lifestyle change. For instance, volunteering and donating money around Christmas time won’t keep you spiritually fit all year round. Physically and spiritually we need to eat and exercise every day.
So start getting active! Start proclaiming the Good News of His glory through service and example. Ask God to show us how to increase our spiritual output – just as we remember to nourish ourselves daily through prayer and Bible study.
~Sara
I recently heard a term for the first time: spiritual obesity. The person who used it said she suffered from spiritual obesity when she was younger. While at church and Bible school, she was being well-fed, but her output was lacking. This was an intriguing concept to me.
We know that obesity occurs when the input far outweighs the output; if you consume many calories but don’t exert anything, you’ll become unhealthy and overweight. I know when my intake offsets my output. I feel sluggish and my attitude has a tendency to be negative. It takes a jumpstart to get me moving again.
We can experience this in our spiritual life: being overfed with knowledge without any exercise of that new understanding. I feel there is a direct link between spiritual obesity and inactivity in the church, community and world. And spiritual inactivity has a way of leading to complaining, gossiping, and indifference. When we have the privilege of breathing in God’s Word, it strengthens us spiritually to share what we have learned with others. What good is it to hear about of Jesus’ life, but not exercise His teachings of humility, mercy, and salvation?
Just as God blessed Abraham in order for him to bring about a blessed nation, we also are blessed in order to serve others. In America, we are blessed with many Gospel centered churches, bible schools and seminaries, and even Bible.com. It is easy for us to be “full” of spiritual knowledge. But it is just as easy not to exercise our spiritual muscles, which is not God’s intention. We, too, have been blessed, not to “sit on” our spiritual riches, but to share them with the world.
I believe God calls us to be spiritually fit. But unlike fad diets or weight-loss pills, this is not a temporary or quick transformation. It’s a lifestyle change. For instance, volunteering and donating money around Christmas time won’t keep you spiritually fit all year round. Physically and spiritually we need to eat and exercise every day.
So start getting active! Start proclaiming the Good News of His glory through service and example. Ask God to show us how to increase our spiritual output – just as we remember to nourish ourselves daily through prayer and Bible study.
~Sara
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