God Assignments
Photo by Brandable Box on Unsplash
One of the joys in my role is to spend time with people. There is something good about meeting face to face, in a coffee shop, pub or home and sharing life.
Some meetings are a bit more formal because of the job. As the leader, I have visited some who are not part of the church but have asked for prayer about specific issues.
Other meetings are encouraging and helping people on the journey with God. Sometimes it involves unpacking what the Bible says on a subject or supporting those in difficulty.
I love getting to know new people when they come to faith or join our church. I enjoy listening to their story and to see God at work in their lives.
Whenever I meet people, I make sure that my phone is out of sight as I want to be present in the conversation.
Last week I went to see some people who had moved into their new home. It was wonderful to share their joy of what the new property offered them.
As we enjoyed some tea and biscuits I asked if they had finished unpacking. They replied, not yet, and pointed to a box in the corner of the room.
That got me thinking about those unfinished tasks in life. I have a list of jobs that I never seem to finish, as something else gets added. I then read this in the Bible, in the book of Joshua in the Old Testament…
“When Joshua had grown old, the Lord said to him, “You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.””
Joshua succeeded Moses as leader of Israel and led them into the land God had promised. The first part of the book records how successful they were.
By chapter 13 we read that there was land still to be taken. In other words, they had not completed the task or ‘God assignment’ He had given them.
What does that look like in my life?
When I became a Christian, God, the Holy Spirit, came and dwelt in me and started a process of changing me from the inside out. This still continues as there are still areas where God is at work!
There are ‘God assignments’: areas of service that God calls all believers to, found in the Bible. This includes living out such things as ‘loving your enemy’ etc.
On a personal level, there are specific things that God wants me to do, which is part of my development and growing.
It seems to me that I will continue working on these three areas all my life! Let me encourage you to pause and look at your life: what God assignments have you yet to fulfil?
God bless you :)
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader