Meekness: It's not what you think it means.

It's been a while since my last post. It's been a very fruitful couple of months. I'll have to share another time.

It's often stressful and life draining to live out our faith in the marketplace. It will challenge our faith, integrity, and character. It will be wear us down spiritually, physically, and mentally. But, I also draw closer to God and depend on God more in those situations. Importantly, I grow in wisdom and character. I was reflecting on Matthew 5:5 this afternoon. I hope it encourages the Christ Followers in the marketplace.

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:5)

Meekness {Gk: praeis} is not about weakness. Our translations and modern understanding of the word often misses the breath of the word. Praeis often is taken to be understood as gentle and being nice to others. Maybe fluffy? Christ followers live this out by become a doormat for others to trample on, passive, showing unwillingness to challenge the situation before them, and often in the form of escape and retreat. Rather praeis refers to "exercising God's strength under His control – i.e. demonstrating power without undue harshness." More, to demonstrate "gentleness (reserve) and strength." (see http://biblehub.com/greek/4239.htm)

To be meek is to know how and when to use a sword but to keep the sword in the sheath. That is the posture of meekness and it is the posture that we are to enter the workplace each day---to be on the front lines for God.  It didn't say it was easy; often times it's frustrating and fearful.  But if God put me here, and I am to remain in my calling (1 Cor 7:20), am I not to serve those around me as if I am serving the LORD himself (Col 3: 23-24)?  

More, to "inherit the earth" is to obtain possession from our Father for we are His children. We are to ground our identity in knowing and being God's children. Therefore, to be meek and to be a child of God is to have power and authority, and responsibility to act as regents of the Kingdom in the world.

Be Strong and Courageous, Christ is in you. God is with you in the workplace. Be bold.

God is calling You: A life long Journey of Discovery.

It's not for me to tell you what God's calling is for you.  It is a life long journey of discovery; it takes time, patience, asking, seeking, knocking, and discernment.  It is important that our life and what we do every day is in line with God's calling for us.

Calling requires a Caller. God is always the caller.  Like sheep who know the voice of the Shepherd, we need to know the voice of our Caller.  It is the Creator, the Almighty who Calls. It is God who is already doing the work, and calls us to join Him to participate in His work in building for the Kingdom. 

Calling requires a Receiver. You and I are the receiver. Again, you need to listen for yourself.  It is not for someone else to tell you YOUR Calling.  We listen with humble hearts.  We need to be actively listening for the Caller and to be open and available to what the Caller will call us to.  We participate in what God is already doing in the world.  

Calling requires a Message. The message is an invitation.  The message may not be what we want to hear.  The message will move us into action.  When we hear the message, there will be a gut feeling that moves us into action.  It will still require discernment-continuous discernment- to ensure that it is indeed Jesus' voice.  And while it stirs us and may even give us a feeling of inadequacy and fear, it will also give us peace. The feeling of inadequacy is not to deter us, but it does ensure that we depend on God because our calling is often a bigger than ourselves and does invite us out of our comfort zone.  It will draw us into deeper relationship, trust, faith and dependent life in the Triune God. 

What is God doing around you?  What talents and gifts have God gifted you for service in the Kingdom? What need is in your city or your neighborhood? What are you passionate about? What verse or story in Scripture has God placed in your heart today? Sometimes our calling may be prompted by situations that upset us?  What do we care about?

It's important to remember that it is not what others want for you, but what God wants for you; the distinction is important to uncover our motives and motivations because when we encounter failure, it will be the motivations and convictions (remembering it is God who Calls) that will help us through it.  Talk about it with elders and people you trust.

How you live out your calling requires imagination! There is no formula.  Be willing, open, and available to what God is doing, trusting in Him, and take steps by talking to others about it, taking action to test it.  We may have many passions and have many ideas but we need to incarnate those passions and ideas in practical ways--take action.  Remembering that it will take time so be patient and there will be risks.  Pray and ask God to bless you if it indeed God's calling for you.  More, remember that it is God's calling for you-you are not alone; the Holy Spirit is with you from beginning to end, and God will also bring other people along with you to support you and to encourage you.  God will equip you and empower you for the task.

I get anxious when I wonder if i'm doing what God is calling me to.  Am I doing what God has called me to? What if I miss my calling? I was reminded by a wise friend that our calling is one of the paradoxes of our lives.  "Calling" is a military term in response to a King.  Fundamentally, it is less about what you do and more importantly about our response to the One who calls.  We can be called to run a company. We can also be called to clean the hallways of a school or clean the sewer pipes.   Work is to glorify God and there is therefore no hierarchy of work.  And if and when the King calls you to something else, we respond, we go, and we do it equally well, bringing our best tp our work, and with all our heart, mind, and soul.

We believe that God is present in ...

The gospel, "good news" is about Jesus and about his inaugurated Kingdom here on earth. In its original meaning, the evangelion was the announcing of a new ruler-a cosmic ruler.  It is good news because a new King-Jesus the eternal King-reigns above any power or government or leader.  A new age indeed has begin at the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus.  It is also good news because sin and death have been defeated; the curse of death, and the bondage of sin has been defeated on the cross.  God has been faithful and accomplished his plan of rescue, redemption, and reconciliation through the God-man Jesus.  And God sends another, the Holy Spirit who takes us into the world-to engage the issues, to be light in darkness, to do our best to transform society, and to maximize God's shalom everywhere we are and go. 

A powerful prayer found in the Iona Abbey Worship book nicely summarizes our participation in God's mission.  

We believe that God is present in the darkness before dawn; in the waiting and uncertainty where fear and courage join hands, conflict and caring link arms, and the sun rises over barbed wire. We believe in a with-us God who sits down in our midst to share our humanity. We affirm a faith that takes us beyond the safe place: into action, into vulnerability and into the street.  We commit ourselves to work for change and put ourselves on the line;to bear responsibility, take risks,live powerfully and face humiliations to stand with those on the edge; to choose life and be used by the Spirit for God's new community of hope.

Amen.

- Iona Abbey Worship Book (c) 2001 The Iona Community

Be faithful to your calling. It is not going to be a smooth light journey and will require perseverance.  Suffering may be the new norm for those that follow Christ. God has empowered you with whatever is needed for the mission and with you through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit-have strength and courage.