16 November 2005

Our Call

Humanity is called to live in a manner that surpasses the ways in which the majority of us are currently living. Quite simply, we are called to live and commune at a deeper level with our Creator -- to fully respect Him as the great I AM; and to completely accept Him as a loving father. Are we not called to engage with Him in ways that reach beyond the confines of a building, a few hours on any given Sunday and the words of a song?

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." -Malachi 3:10 (NIV)

Can you imagine a blessing like this? It simply blows my mind! And I'm not talking about a monetary blessing here. I'm talking about the Lord showering us with gifts of knowledge, discernment, understanding, peace, patience, sensitivity, commitment, pure love...and the list goes on and on. And none of this for our own sake, but in order that we may be more clearly led by His hand in all that we do. It's about living inside the eye of His storm of grace.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Totally agree. Consider Erwin McManus' take on "our call" from a different angle:
"We have put so much emphasis on avoiding evil that we have become virtually blind to the endless opportunities for doing good. We have defined holiness through what we separate ourselves from rather than what we give ourselves to. I am convinced the great tragedy is not the sins that we commit, but the life that we fail to live."
Do you really believe that the God who created all of Earth (humans included) created us to remain neutral in life?

Anonymous said...

Troy,

While reviewing your profile I took notice to some of your favorite music and literature. I wanted to get your opinion regarding a few controversial issues in the Christian faith. How would you defend listening to, reading, and ultimately condoning music that carries profanity and literature that could be blasphemous in how it contradicts the true faith and belief of Jesus Christ? (Ex. Public Enemy / The DaVinci Code) I know that I may sound “legalistic”, and for that I apologize. However, it does not divert the fact that you are professing to be a true Bible believing Christian. If that is so, than you would be the perfect person to answer this question and address this subject. I look forward to your response…..

Devil’s Advocate

troy. said...

Devil's Advocate:

Great question. I'll be back tomorrow with my attempt at an answer.