The Meat of the Gospel

I had to laugh at myself after our Bible Study session last week. We went around the table sharing what meant the most to us after last week's study. Several women shared that just the fact that God never gives up on us, and is always searching for us as evidenced in the 3 parables was so meaningful. These are the same stories I was struggling to find what Priscilla wanted to share with us in my previous blog. How silly! Of course it is as simple and as profound as our God never letting us go.

I have been loving this week's lessons which delve into the meat of the Jonah story. God tells us,

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" (Matt 28:19)

Priscilla reminds us on page 107 that sharing Jesus is supposed to be a way we live, not just something we do. This is something we know in our heads, but is such a challenge to live with our hearts. It's probably a challenge just because of the fact that God is always "putting regular people in circumstances that are beyond their own capabilities". Of course He is. How else would we grow. But growing is such hard work, and we tend to think that we know when we've grown enough. Thankfully, again, our God doesn't let us become apathetic - He shakes us up and puts us in a circumstance that challenges us and compels us to lean into Him.

I particularly love Day 3. Here we learn that God has truly prepared the way for us. He's preparing the hearts of people that we come in contact with. We may just be a drop of water in their journey, but who knows, perhaps we are softening hearts so that one day their love for God will just burst forth. This is so encouraging to me. This is a vocation.

Webster's defines vocation in this way:

a : a summons or strong inclination to a particular state or course of action; especially : a divine call to the religious life b : an entry into the priesthood or a religious order.

I think this is so cool. This is what God has done for us - He's entered us into His priesthood. He equipped us with His Holy Spirit. No matter what our age (young, old), enemy (few or many), He has set us up to win!