Have you ever wondered what it is that God wants from you? Does God want you to be partnered, or single? Does God want you to be a nurse or an electrician? Does God want you to live in this house or that apartment, go here or go there, say this thing or say that thing instead? From great things in our lives, like what we do for a living, where we live, and who we love - to the little things, like what food we eat, what clothes we wear or what television programs we watch. What does God want from you? How do you know?
At Wednesday's bible study Elaine shared a wonderful video on the life of Mother Teresa. This remarkable woman began her personal ministry by tending to the sick and dying in Calcutta. Later she went on to found an order of nuns called The Missionaries of Charity who now operate over 600 missions and schools in over 120 countries.
To look at the life of such a woman is to look at the life of Jesus. It's easy for us to think that we could never aspire to such a life, that we're just too 'human'. And we'd be wrong. Whatever God wants for you is the reason that you're here. It may not be on the streets of Calcutta, or to found an order of missions, or even to lead a group of disciples, but I think that whatever it is it's just as important as any of those to God.
So, what is the will of God for you? In my experience there's three ways to know. First - if God tells you. Second - if your heart demands it of you. Or thirdly - if it makes you happy.
If God tells you in ways you cannot ignore then check with others before you move ahead. God invariably confirms through witnesses. (1 Timothy 3)
If your heart tells you what you need to do then check with God and with others. It's all too easy to mistake your emotional need for a calling.
If it makes you happy then check with all the above and ask yourself "Does this make me happy because God is at the center of it filling me with Joy, or because it feeds my self esteem and helps me to feel better about myself?" If your answer is the former rather than the latter then it's probably what you're supposed to be doing.
And remember through all of this to Pray! Mother Teresa is quoted as saying Many people mistake our work for our vocation. Our vocation is the love of Jesus. The core of what we are called to do needs to be Christ's love, or else we are just a noisy Gong or a clashing cymbal. (1stCor 13:1-3) Mother Teresa also said that In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love. Which is perhaps also why St John wrote that this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. (2John 1:6) Perhaps God simply wants you to love and be loved because everything else, including happiness, stems from that.
Sunday 28th of February 2010
