Doing What God Asks

Devotional for Friday, October 5, 2001 by David Leggatt

Mark 16:15 - And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." (NKJV)

Luke 9:60 - Go and preach the kingdom of God. (NKJV)

John 20:21 - Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you. (NKJV)

Acts 1:8 - You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (NKJV)

Have you ever noticed that sometimes God, or someone else, has to keep hitting us over the head with the proverbial two-by-four to get our attention?

I don't know how many times I had read the scripture passages quoted today. After being in the workforce for three years, I finally heard the message God wanted me to hear. He wanted me to go into the ministry. I went back to finish high school, attended university for my B.A. degree, and then went off to seminary.

This is where I really think God had a sense of humour. I flunked out in my first year of seminary because I couldn't pass the Greek requirement.

It was back to work in my old job -- for another 20 years. Then God started hitting me over the head again and saying, "Okay, David, it is time to go back to seminary." Now I really knew God had a sense of humour. Here I was: married with two kids -- one in university -- and God wanted me to go to seminary. It must have been for real, because, here I am -- five years and more later -- an ordained minister.

One would think that after an experience like that a person would learn. But for some reason I guess I am a slow learner. Someone who writes for this page has been after me for a couple of years to start writing devotionals again. Now I know that it was again God hitting me over the head to get my attention, even if His instrument was someone else.

God sometimes does have a strange way of getting our attention. I have learned, I hope, that when God calls, one had better answer -- because He isn't likely going to quit calling until we do.

I have learned that every one of us has gifts that God wants us to use for His honour and glory. It doesn't necessarily mean one has to be an ordained minister. One could be a wonderful teacher who can teach Sunday School, or a great cook who could co-ordinate suppers at the church, or a beautiful singer who can be in the choir. None of these gifts are ones that I have, but I see them in evidence all around me in the church. God has a purpose for giving us our gifts, and He really is the happiest when we use them.

Prayer: Almighty God, help us to see what our gifts are and how we can use them to Your honour and glory. Help us not to be selfish with Your gifts, but to use them to help others. Amen.

David Leggatt <leggattd@sympatico.ca>
Wiarton, Ontario, Canada

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