Unfulfilled Promises to God

Have you ever had a time when you heard God’s call to do something or an invitation to join Him in something, and you agreed with your whole heart? Then life happened, and you sort of forgot about it? I vividly remember when a student of mine pulled me aside when we were recruiting for a mission trip to Liberia, West Africa. She shared a beautiful story of how God had called her to go on the trip. She was amazed how the calling was confirmed by others and she was very excited to see what God was going to do in and through her. 

Then, when the deadline for the trip came and went, I noticed that she failed to sign up. It was several months before I saw her again at church and I asked why she did not sign up for the trip. She talked about a conflict with a required cheerleading camp, the high expense, the job she would be forced to give up, and that her parents were not so excited about it. She sounded like a defense lawyer, and my question put her on the defensive. I think her experience is particularly relatable. 

I believe wholeheartedly that God cares more about us finding His will than we do; finding it is not the problem, doing it is. There are many examples in scripture of Jesus calling people to follow Him, and asking them to leave something behind. When Jesus called Peter and the other disciples, who were fishermen, they had to leave behind their nets to follow Him. That sounds far easier in theory than it is in practice. It has been my personal experience that God likes to ask us to trade what is valuable to us for what is priceless. This is the essence of the story of the pearl of great value recorded in Matthew 13:45-46. Jesus is saying that He is worth giving up everything for. 

As we do our spiritual spring cleaning, I encourage you to consider what you have already offered to God and consider taking the next step of obedience. I pray that it is something really, really tangible, like getting baptized, taking a mission trip, joining a community group, becoming a member of the church, or dedicating your kids to Jesus. You know the thing God has asked you to do. May you have the courage to do it.

Expectantly, 

Shawn