Geneva Men for Christ

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8 (NAS)

Think About It

Isaiah had his priorities straight. What will it take for us to yield so completely to the Lord? Maybe we’re afraid of where He might send us? Why? Do we really think that God would send us some place and then abandon us? Never!! Maybe He is calling you to a far off mission field, but then again maybe He is calling you to step up your game right here at home. Until we have Isaiah’s gratitude & attitude we’ll never know. Think about it.

Consider

“Be kind and merciful. Let no one ever come to you without coming away better and happier. Be the living expression of God’s kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting.”

- Mother Teresa

THIS IS WHO GOD IS

“God is looking for a body, flesh and blood to show the world a proper marriage of the divine and human. What happens when your body looks nothing like you? What happens when your people become the embodiment of everything you are against? What happens when you’re being given a bad name? What happens when your people are unfaithful to the vow they made to you? What happens when your people “go back that way again,” the way you rescued them from? The Hebrew Scriptures have a very simple and direct message: God always hears the cry of the oppressed; God cares about human suffering and the conditions that cause it. God is searching for a body, a community of people to care for the things God cares about. God gives power and blessing so that justice and righteousness will be upheld for those who are denied them. This is what God is like. This is what God is about. This is who God is.”

- Rob Bell and Don Golden, Jesus Wants to Save Christians: A Manifesto for the Church in Exile

VERSE TO PONDER

“Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from him. Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of the wicked, for the evil man has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.” Proverbs 24:17-20 (NIV)

Consider

“If monotony tries me, and I cannot stand drudgery; if stupid people fret me and the little ruffles set me on edge; if I make much of the trifles of life, then I know nothing of Calvary love.”

- Amy Carmichael, If [1938]

Knowing God

“Knowing God is more than knowing about Him; it is a matter of dealing with Him as He opens up to you, and being dealt with by Him as He takes knowledge of you. Knowing about Him is a necessary precondition of trusting in Him, but the width of our knowledge about Him is no gauge of our knowledge of Him.”

- J. I. Packer, Knowing God [1973]

On Prayer
“Grant that I may not pray alone with the mouth; help me that I may pray from the depths of my heart”

- Martin Luther (1483-1546)

LESSONS FROM JAMES MACDONALD
Answer the Call

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:4-10
Every person who names the name of Jesus Christ has a threefold call on his life.
First, God calls us to know His Son Jesus Christ personally through faith. Responding to this call changes everything—your life, your purpose, your eternal destiny—but it’s not the whole story. Some folks think, “I’m saved now—next stop, heaven,” but God’s call doesn’t stop at conversion. Really, it’s just the beginning.

God also calls you to follow Him. Jesus extends the same invitation to you and me that He did to the disciples on the shore of Galilee: “Come follow Me.” This call to discipleship makes a place for you to walk and talk with the Lord every day; it’s an invitation to know and be known by the Lover of your soul.

But again, the call extends even beyond this to the call to serve Christ. Contrary to many people’s priority lists, working for God is not in the options column. Why? Because God needs you to get His church built? No, He could do it with His feet up. He calls you and me off the bench and into the game because He wants to bless us. Just ask any faithful, fruitful follower of Christ, and they’ll tell you all about the joy of rolling up your sleeves and pouring yourself into the place He’s got for you to serve.
Ephesians 2:8-10 sums up our threefold calling like this: “By grace you have been saved through faith [the call to conversion]. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works [the call to service], which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them [the call to discipleship].”
Where do you stand in relation to God’s call on your life? Are you experiencing the blessing of obedience? If you obey the call to know Christ, you know the gift of eternal life. If you obey the call to follow Christ, you know fellowship with the Lord that brings increasing faith and joy. If you obey the call to serve Christ, you’re experiencing the rush of investing your life in something greater than your life. It takes obedience in all three aspects to experience the abundant life Christ promises.
If you wonder where your joy is these days, ask yourself how you’re doing in these areas. Then step up and go after the things that God calls you to. You’re gonna get blessed for sure.

Last Out

Have you spoken to anyone from your table this past 10 days? Call someone today and let them know you are praying for them.

Upcoming dates: October 26, November 2 & 16, December 7 (6:30 start) & 21. Note that we’re off until the 26th due to scheduling conflicts. Don’t let this time away keep you from examining The Spiritual Disciplines and applying them to your life.

Press on, for the upward call….

- Raymond