Bobservations
by Pastor Bob Lawrenz
The story of the Hebrews begins with Abraham
hearing from God, and then by faith, following God’s directions. While we see
Abraham as being imperfect, we must also see that he obeyed God and packed up
his family, moving away from familiar surroundings to a different land
altogether. Abraham’s appointment with God led him to a new land, and to being
the progenitor of a new people.
Just this weekend, we have seen a young
family pull up stakes, and move lock, stock, and barrel to a new region of the
country; God wanted to bless them, and put everything together for their
journey. They have had an appointment with Jesus, and He has directed them to a
new life elsewhere.
We are also witness to a family that is
watching a beloved member struggle with cancer, and being readied for hospice
care, in apparent preparation to go home and meet the Lord. She has an
appointment with Jesus.
All of us are appointed by God for
something. His desire is to change our course and alter our path. In Luke 12:46 an unfaithful servant is appointed his
portion with unbelievers (This is NOT good news!). In Acts 6:3, seven men are
to be appointed to serve in the church as deacons, taking on simple tasks. It
should occur to us that everyone is appointed by God to something, regardless of their religious beliefs, or their lack of
them.
In God’s family of Believers, everyone has
their place. Once in a great while, it’s a perfect fit from the start, but most
times we are appointed and molded and shaped into a perfect fit. Our
sister-in-the-Lord is being prepared for her appointment, for flesh and blood
cannot inherit the kingdom
of God. For the rest of us, our molding and
shaping is less severe, but equally vital if we are to be used by God, Jesus
Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
God may have several appointments in our
lifetimes, and always with a purpose, but it’s inevitably to draw us closer to
Him in a relationship of loving trust, with each new appointment an adventure
towards peace with Him.
But
now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou
our
potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. ~Isaiah 64:8
