Find Your Fit

Have you ever reached for your screwdriver only to discover you’d attached the wrong bit? The right bit matters. The right bit fits. It gets the job done. Big job, small job, it doesn’t matter. If the tool isn’t the right tool the job isn’t getting done.

You matter too. And you fit. You fit somewhere. You were made with something in mind for you. You fit. And if it sounds like I’m calling you a tool—well I guess I am. I’m sorry about that.

You fit. Get to your place. Find your fit. Go where it works for you and where you work. Get to the place where the good stuff God put inside you can be unleashed in order to make everyone around you better. Do it.

If you haven’t found that place yet, that’s ok. Keep looking. Keep working. You will. It’s out there.

You might find that it doesn’t look like you thought it would. But it’s there. And when you discover your fit it’s amazing. Go for it.

March 15 - The Call

Read: Mark 3:13, 16-19

And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. (Mark 3:13 ESV)

Growing up the word calling was used as a part of normative church vernacular. That's a churchy way of saying destiny. It was generally phrased as either a question such as What is your calling? Or a statement like I am called to (insert career description).

It took a long time for me to understand what exactly that meant for my life. I began my Christian life at a young age, and understood pretty early on that there was some kind of bigger plan for my life than the things I daydreamed about. It wasn't until nearly ten years later that I began active vocational full time ministry.

I remember the decision to step into this life as a career minister. I remember feeling the weight of the Holy Spirit and the way it felt to feel God speak that into my heart. It wasn't so much a mountain top experience for me. There was nothing overly sensational. I didn't hear Christ's voice ring out from a mountain like the disciples did. It was a lot more like a felt whisper urging me in my soul.

Looking back over a decade later I wonder what my life might have become had I not listened and obeyed the Call. Even the remote possibility of it nearly brings me to tears. The idea of it is deeply troubling and sad because of the incredible joy I have experienced in ministry. On the other hand, I feel tears of complete gladness. I am glad than when Jesus whispered the Call into my soul that I answered. I am glad I came to him, not just for forgiveness, not just for an eternal destination in the after life. I am glad I came to Jesus when he called so that in him I would find a purpose, passion, and plan. In him I became a disciple and a discipler.

What about your Call? Did Jesus say something? Have you quieted your life enough to even hear or does the busyness of it all drown out the sound of his voice?

February 24 - Authority

Read: Luke 4:31-37

...and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority. (Luke 4:32 ESV)

We all know and recognize authority. Even if we don't like that authority or feel like it is being abused we know authority when we see it. Official representatives of our government carry authority. Officers of the law, firemen, first responders, and other emergency personnel carry authority. Even the IRS has authority.

Authority is power. It is a voice of order. When authority speaks, those of us within the sound of the message have to choose how that we will respond. Compliance or rebellion? The trick I think sometimes comes in recognizing and validating authority. It's fairly easy if a policeman pulls up behind you with their lights flashing and siren going to recognize the authority they should have over you. Sometimes in the world of Christian faith this seems to get a little unclear for people.

As Christians our ultimate authority is Jesus. The demons he cast out recognized his absolute authority. As such, we should filter life's big decisions, personal victories, and private troubles with Jesus. He already knows them, but his authority works in our favor. In fact, in some ways it actually extends to us. Jesus cast out demons because of his authority, and for nearly two millennia his followers have done the same thing while operating as heavenly representatives of his authority.

Also, chances are pretty good that God has placed us under the authority of a fellow believer. Timothy was under Paul, even as Paul had submitted himself to the authority of the disciples and other Christian leaders such as Peter and James. Rare indeed is the occasion that God places us in a position to love and serve Him without living under authority. It's unhealthy and dangerous. Who is your authority? How are you submitting to them?

February 23 - Hometown

Read: Isaiah 61 & Luke 4:14-30

And he said, "Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown." (Luke 4:24 ESV)

Jesus grew up in Nazareth. It was his earthly home. A small town with probably around one hundred inhabitants, the chances are pretty good that Jesus pretty much knew everyone by name. What would you think if someone you've known for a long time came and told you they were God? I think I would probably respond a lot like the crowd in Nazareth.

Sometimes its hard to go home and be taken seriously. The people who have known you the longest can sometimes be your harshest critics. They still see that little kid they watched grow up. When faced with that actuality we have to confront it as Jesus did— by lovingly stating our purpose, vision, and calling.

We might not be given an actual platform to vocalize our entire directive in a single setting. This is where relationships become so important. Relationships give us context and platform to share what God is calling us to do in a way that is natural. You may still catch flak like Jesus did, but go with your heart and your gut.

Jesus declared his intentions and mission in very specific terms by reading from Isaiah 61 that day. It was a prophetic kind of declaration. It was his mission statement. It still is today. How has Jesus fulfilled the claims of Isaiah 61 in your life? Do you know anyone that needs to hear these promises from Jesus? Do the people who are close to you believe what you have to say about Jesus? Sometimes sharing life's big moments with people from our past, even people close to us, can be really hard to do. The difficulty doesn't release us from the obligation of doing it.