Is it something we're supposed to spend so much of the time trying to figure out...(ie. what is it? am I in it? am I out of it?)
Here's my point, I think we spend too much time trying to figure this out and even worrying whether we're in God's will or not...and too little time just being faithful, regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in.
At a recent conference (Catalyst) Andy Stanley didn't speak directly to this but what he had to say completely applied. And using Joseph's life OT, he came to a conclusion after asking the following question.
Why did Joseph act the way that he did regardless of the circumstances he found himself in?
Over and over in his life the circumstances were rather tragic and painful for him, yet through it all we read the words, "God was with him". But that didn't mean that Joseph was aware of it through special dreams and revelations. On the contrary, God would seem to be pretty absent from his life considering the course of the journey (I know we know the ending and so we almost forget the journey.) But during those 15-20 years of the journey... God was with him and his brothers thought of killing him. God was with him and he was sold him into slavery. God was with him and so God blessed Potiphar. God was with him and he came upon a lose, lose situation with Potiphar's wife (sleeps with her, gets killed/doesn't and goes to jail) God was with him and he gets in tight with the prison warden (uh?-not a real wow moment). God was with him and he interprets two dreams only to be forgotten in jail for another two years. God was with him and Pharaoh (who sees himself as God) calls him to see whether he'll really be able to interpret his dreams - we know the rest of the story...but do you see the journey?
In the journey the fact that God was with Joseph was often followed by hardship or God blessing others because of him, rather than God blessing him directly. Some of you will argue that being in with the warden was God blessing him (ok, have it your way)
Here's the point, why did Joseph act the way he did, regardless of his circumstances? According to Stanley, and I believe he's right on the money, the answer is simple.
Joseph did what anyone who was sold into slavery, framed for rape, thrown and forgotten in jail, what anyone who was brought before the ruler of the world would do if they absolutely believed that God was with them.
In that manner, the most important thing isn't trying to figure what God's will is for your life, the most important thing is to live today believing that God is with you. And whatever may come even if you can't figure it out, even if it feels there should be a better, more comfortable place you could/should be in...the truth is there could be no better place of safety - for the truth is God is with you.
As I read just this week, it's this kind of trust, this kind of an understanding of who God is that would allow Jesus to sleep through a storm when everyone else was thinking they were going to die. It's this kind of belief that had Daniel walk into a lion's den, and other's into fiery furnaces and still others to allow themselves to be sawed in half.
When you truly believe that God loves you and that he's close to you, regardless of whether you "feel" him or even if you haven't heard from him, it's then you discover that whatever your circumstances and wherever you are in this world - it's a perfectly safe place to be.
A wonderful lesson that began at Catalyst and has kept evolving since then.
Posted by ed | TrackBackHey Ed, thanks so much for sharing this post. It reminds me of the stuff I am reading by Dallas Willard in The Divine Conspiracy. He talks about what the Kingdom of God really means is that God is right here right now with us, not just way up in the sky somewhere we have to beg to come down and be with us. If you put that and what you wrote together it really makes sense. I don't know if you wrote it on another post, but the question begs to be asked then, What would you do if you could know for sure that God was with you? Wow.
At a conference years ago, someone asked John MacArthur why he accepted the call to serve at his church in California. His answer? "Because I wanted to."
There is something liberating about walking in the Spirit on a daily basis, so that most choices can be made with that kind of clarity. Keeping tuned in to the Spirit's frequency, I guess.
Posted by: Brian MullinsJohn, I know your question was rhetorical, but imagine that, we could really live like Jesus. cool eh?
Brian, I like that. I'm often frustrated at Pastor's conferences when I hear pastors talk about how God called them to three different churches in the span of a year or two. I say that because I think the issue of calling and God's will are very closely knit and that we use the "language" too easily, often about choices we make and, at times, try to overspiritualize.
I like his eminence's answer :)
Posted by: edI don't think he's all THAT emminent, I heard him on the Christian radio and he seemed harsh.
Posted by: TrishOk then guess I gotta get your sarcasm better, must be a preaching technique or something lol.
Posted by: Trish