Hearing and Responding

References:
• Isaiah 6 NAS
• James 4:13-17 NAS
• “Through Heaven’s Eyes,” (with lyrics) from “The Prince of Egypt”

Over the years, I have often been challenged to listen to the directions that God is giving me and to follow where He guides me. Sometimes it is easy to be obedient. When you sense God directing you to do something that makes sense or makes sense, obedience is easy. Such situations as comfort a friend who is going through a rough time, volunteer in a soup kitchen or homeless shelter, to sing during a worship service when you love to sing in front of people, etc. All of those are easy to do.

But yet, often times God will call us to do things that are difficult. For example, God may call a person who loves to study and research thing to teach a class. But while that person loves to learn new things, sharing them in a social setting may set them on edge. Or, sometimes God calls a person to take a stand against a socially accepted evil, like abortion, even though it will mean sacrificing his/her relationship with many friends and family members.

I have sometimes wondered what went through the minds of people like Paul, Isaiah, James, etc., when God called them to do something. Let’s take Isaiah’s experience as an example. Not a whole lot is known about him. He may have been an aristocrat, or maybe he just grew up in Jerusalem and was very knowledgeable with the religious and political leaders. No matter what his up bring was, we see in Chapter 6 that he was suddenly called by God to be His spokesperson to the nation of Israel. And, like Daniel and Jeremiah, it appears that he had a long ministry. And, according to Scripture, his ministry was often rejected.

When God calls us to do things that are unpopular, it can be very hard to want to obey. How many people do you know who enjoy going against the grain, calling injustices and evils to light, and taking a very unpopular stand? I have read about, and talked with, people who are very passionate about the cause they are leading. Though they are passionate about their cause, they often feel greatly frustrated with having to fight against the status quo. Though driven, they are often tired, exhausted, sometimes even become physically ill from the stress.

Sometimes, though, the challenges that God calls us to are not fighting major social injustices. Sometimes the difficult times that God calls a person to are working a job that they really do not enjoy, living in a community that they do not feel a part of, etc. I have been experiencing this myself for many years. It is very hard to work a job that does not come naturally to you, where you feel like a square peg in a round hole. But yet, sometimes God wants to use you in one place so that, when His timing is right, you can be placed in a different position where He can use you, and it feels more natural.

One of the things that I have noticed in Scripture is that God often calls people to follow Him and do things way out of their comfort zones. With people like Moses, Joshua, Isaiah, Saul (later Paul), amongst many others, God called a person from one life and profession to fulfill something totally different. Moses went from a Prince of Egypt to a shepherd somewhere in Canaan, and then to the leader of Israel. Saul was a zealous Pharisee until God changed his life. After his awesome encounter with God on the road to Damascus, Paul became a very influential person within the Early Church and a very effective missionary.

In many cases, the people who God called were not ‘qualified’ for what He called them to do. But, in spite of the fact that they didn’t have the training prior to what He was calling them to, God provided all that they needed as they walked in obedience. Some of those called by God to walk in faith in ways that were very challenging saw a lot of fruit for their labor. Some of them saw little in their lifetime. The same can be in our lives. Although God may call us to do something in faith, we may or may not see much fruit for our labor. And, that is a difficult thing to accept. But yet, accept it we must.

In this life time, we may see little of what God is doing through us. But, that cannot be an excuse to justify not being obedient. Even when it seems that walking in obedience means walking totally alone, we still need to follow. One song that has been a source of encouragement to me (and a challenge, too) is “Through Heaven’s Eyes,” from the movie “The Prince of Egypt.” This song reminds me of the fact that my perception of life is very, very limited. I can easily miss what God is accomplishing through my obedience. Or, it could even be totally hidden from me. But yet, I am encouraged with Ecclesiastes 11:1, that God will accomplish His will through what I do. I may not see it, but He will accomplish His will through my obedience. Is that not an encouragement?!

Whether God calls us to do something that is easy or exceptionally challenging, let us prayerfully seek to obey. Even if we might not see what God is doing through our obedience, let us strive to be obedient. Isaiah, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Fredrick Douglass, amongst many others, probably had little comprehension of what all God would do through them. The repercussions of their obedience is felt even to today. Though we may not be used like God used them, that’s not to say that God can’t do incredible things through us. On this side of Heaven, we probably will not fully comprehend all that God has accomplished through us.

I started this blog many years ago, walking in faith that it was what God wanted me to do. Although I see that many people have visited my blog (over 1300 to date), and people from all over the world have viewed it, I still don't know just how it impacts each person. I have had visitors from the Middle East, all over Europe, Canada, China, etc. (at least, that is where their ISP is registered at). But, though I know many people have visited my blog, I do not know how many stop and read through everything. I also do not know how I have impacted lives now, be it encouragement, challenge, or what not. Nor do I know what kind of seeds God might be planting in a person's heart when they stop briefly, read a few lines, and then go elsewhere. Though I don't know, I trust that God is accomplishing something. Just as when a stone is tossed into a pond and the ripples continue from one side to another, let us seek to do God’s will. As we pray for help to be obedient, let us trust God to guide those ‘ripples’ in the directions that He wants them to go. And maybe, just maybe, God will give us glimpses into what He is doing through us.