"You Were Formed for Change"

You Were Formed for Change

Two weeks ago I preached a sermon from Isaiah 43. It was a particularly impassioned sermon – even if I do say so myself! We had just come from a Sunday school class where members and friends of the church had turned in their theological (and not so theological!) questions – and Luke and I had endeavored to answer them. One of those questions was: “Do you believe God gives everyone everything they need to do what God wants them to do? If so, how do you know what role you play in this?”

This is a good question to ask regardless of the time of year – but a particularly good question as we enter Holy Week. A time for us to reconsider the stewardship God has placed in our hands as we seek to make life better for in our world. This brings me back to Isaiah 43: “This is what God says, the God who builds a road right through the ocean, who carves a path through pounding waves, The God who summons horses and chariots and armies— they lie down and then can't get up; they're snuffed out like so many candles: "Forget about what's happened; don't keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it? There it is! I'm making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands. Wild animals will say 'Thank you!' —the coyotes and the buzzards— Because I provided water in the desert, rivers through the sun-baked earth,Drinking water for the people I chose, the people I made especially for myself, a people custom-made to praise me.” The Message Isaiah 43:16-21

After Isaiah encourages the people of Israel to“Forget the former things…Do not dwell on the past, he invites them to be alert and be present to experience and participate in something brand new that God was about to do.

Do you believe that God can do a “ brand new thing” through you? Can you believe that you were “chosen for a task”, made for an assignment, called forth for intentional purposes? I can hear your arguments now!

We are in the midst of a lousy economy – can God give me something meaningful to do in this? (…the God who builds a road right through the ocean, who carves a path through pounding waves.)

Our country is in the midst of two wars… not to mention the terrorist threat that hangs over our heads. Can God give us an assignment when the risk of annihilation is ever-present and even the most trusted of our financial institutions turn out to be corrupt and our politicians seem helpless! (The God who summons horses and chariots and armies—they lie down and then can’t get up; they’re snuffed out like so many candles.)

But we’ve all been through SO much!! Illnesses that have debilitated us and left us weak – even bald! Relationships that we counted on and thought would last forever turned out to be false and fleeting. Friends and family that we counted on, a future we banked on, an identity we believed, a circumstance we trusted – all of these can turn to nothing but fluff and bubbles!! (Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand new!)

The challenge we all have is matching ourselves to the assignment! What is it that best positions you to declare praise to God through your vocation or your avocation – your relationships, values or interests? Our goal is to match the passion, mission, vision, and strengths within us to a particular assignment. Imagine doing something that connects with your passion; one that is in line with your personal mission; one that helps you realize your vision for serving others. My experience is that when these things line up in our lives - great things happen!

So, now is the time to be conversant with your passions. What angers you the most and what brings you great joy? Answer this and you have a hint about your calling. What do you think about when you envision a preferable future? Think on this and you will have a hint about your vision. What results are worth your life? Think on this and you will arrive at your mission. Now add your gifts, abilities, competencies, and experiences and you will begin to clearly see what God formed you to do.

You were formed for change! Trust that God will provide “water in the desert, rivers through the sun-baked earth, drinking water for the people I chose, the people I made especially for myself, a people custom-made to praise me.”