Following
God's call and leading can is sometimes hard. There are a lot of reasons
for this, sometimes you end up living where you don't want to our doing what
does not come natural, and other times it means saying goodbye to people you
dearly love. In August of 2012 I felt God start leading me away from Orange
City, IA where I had been doing youth ministry for around ten years. I loved
the work and the people dearly, and knew that obeying the Lord would be
extremely difficult, and it was. Almost a year later, that leading
clearly guided me to Westchester. Saying goodbye to relationships, handing off
ministry that I was deeply invested in, and requiring my family to also say
goodbye to people they loved was all excruciating. But, it was completely
worth it.
I
Corinthians 6:19- teaches that since we have been bought by the blood of Christ
at the Cross our bodies are temples of the Spirit, and we are not our own. Similarly, Oswald Chambers writes:
"We are not sanctified for ourselves. We are called into intimacy with the gospel, and things happen that appear to have nothing to do with us. But God is getting us into fellowship with Himself. Let Him have His way.” Paul, in Acts 20:24 says, "But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
"We are not sanctified for ourselves. We are called into intimacy with the gospel, and things happen that appear to have nothing to do with us. But God is getting us into fellowship with Himself. Let Him have His way.” Paul, in Acts 20:24 says, "But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
I don’t know all the ways God plans to use, or not to use me. I am confident, through prayer, dialoguing with brothers and sisters in Christ, and experience that God has lead me to where I am. I know that my life belongs to Him and he can call me where He wants, when He wants. I miss people I love, this week as I have had the privilege of joining the youth group on a trip I miss youth ministry a little more. But, I would not trade the joy of walking in the will of God for anything. As we follow Christ, He will, at times call us to leave a group or send people out from our group for various reasons. We do it, not out of begrudging obligation, but joy for the mission of the Gospel.
Chuck Mullikin
About the Author:
Chuck serves on staff at Westchester as Associate Pastor of Adult Discipleship
About the Author:
Chuck serves on staff at Westchester as Associate Pastor of Adult Discipleship
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