Saturday morning at 0230, I asked myself the question, "Who would I be if everything I found myself "doing" right now was taken away?"
If all the tasks of ministry were taken away from me, the mentoring and discipleship relationships, teaching opportunities, and leadership responsibilities who would I be?
I'm not sure where this question came from but it certainly carries some weight for me if I end up getting deployed because all the current "tasks" I find myself in now will come to an end.
Several conversations with people last week reminded me of a post I'd written awhile back "Why Who not Where." And even the sermon I'd preached last Tuesday has been coming back to haunt me. One of the key points from the sermon was "God is infinitely more concerned with the work he does in you than the work you think you can do for Him."
Since last Tuesday God's really made me examine whether or not I was living up to what I've been teaching through readings, scripture, and conversations I've had since last Tuesday. I've really been left to question whether or not I'm so consumed in doing things for God that I miss out on what God wants to do in me. Because ultimately I know that "ministry" will get done with or without me its God's work. I have to recognize too that I am God's work.
I think the question "Who Am I?" has great relevance to all of our lives because where we are and what we are doing can change in the blink of an eye. When we spend all of our time planning the what's and where's we're setting our future on a rickety foundation. We are setting ourselves up for disappointment and failure (Jas 4:13-17).
So as I continue this process of self-examination I thought I'd share some questions that I've been asking myself.
Reflection Questions:
1. What would my reaction toward God be if everything I was doing was taken away?
2. How can the loss of tasks and responsibilities be an opportunity for God to work in me?
3. What/who defines my identity?
Further Reading:
Since last Tuesday God's really made me examine whether or not I was living up to what I've been teaching through readings, scripture, and conversations I've had since last Tuesday. I've really been left to question whether or not I'm so consumed in doing things for God that I miss out on what God wants to do in me. Because ultimately I know that "ministry" will get done with or without me its God's work. I have to recognize too that I am God's work.
I think the question "Who Am I?" has great relevance to all of our lives because where we are and what we are doing can change in the blink of an eye. When we spend all of our time planning the what's and where's we're setting our future on a rickety foundation. We are setting ourselves up for disappointment and failure (Jas 4:13-17).
So as I continue this process of self-examination I thought I'd share some questions that I've been asking myself.
Reflection Questions:
1. What would my reaction toward God be if everything I was doing was taken away?
2. How can the loss of tasks and responsibilities be an opportunity for God to work in me?
3. What/who defines my identity?
Further Reading:
- Psalm 121:3-8
- James 1:5-17
- Ephesians 2:8-10
- Isaiah 64:8
- Psalm 92:4-5
- Psalm 95:6-7
- Psalm 100:3
2 comments:
A few weeks ago, Dane was preaching on ministry and living for Christ. I forget who he quoted, but this is what he said: "For those of us in ministry, it may not be that we are the best followers of Christ, but it may be an act of God's grace and mercy that He brings us into ministry leadership to help us stay on track. If we were not in ministry leadership we may not even follow Him." Something like that! It scares me a little to think of how much truth is in that. Your question is very valid and important for all of us.
I agree, that is very scary and something that crosses my mind often. I think the most difficult times in my life were during gaps of "ministry service." 2009 really rocked me to core. During the fall of that year God kept asking me, "Will you still seek after Me if you don't have (blank)?"
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