Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Maybe you aren't called to be someone amazing


Maybe you aren't called to be Joshua the son of Nun, bringing the people into the Promised Land.

Maybe you aren't called to be someone amazing.

I know, I know, we're all "special". All amazing. All wonderful. I guess that's true, in some ways.

But we're not all doers of great and memorable deeds. And that's fine: we're called to be faithful, not famous.

So here's an encouragement for the unfamous faithful: who comes to mind when you think of "Joshua" from the Bible? Joshua the son of Nun, right? Joshua who fit the battle of Jericho. Joshua, the heir of Moses' leadership.


But he wasn't the only Joshua.

Maybe you aren't amazing. Maybe you aren't called to be Joshua the son of Nun.

Maybe you are Joshua the son of Jehozadak, who we read about in Haggai, working on a temple that is "as nothing" compared to the former one.

Maybe you are one of God's people living in the degenerate days, when no one is doing great deeds. You're just, y'know ... doing the deeds that are to hand.

But hear God's call to Joshua the son of Jehozadak:
Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the LordWork, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts...

You may not be called to great deeds in great times.

You are still called to be faithful.

"Work, for I am with you..."



And that lesser temple? the one Joshua the son of Jehozadek served in? the one that people looked at, and thought it was "as nothing"?


It was the one the Greater Joshua came to: Jesus, the Son of God Himself.

"But the Lord you seek will suddenly come to his temple . . ."



Maybe you are not anyone great, in any great time, doing any great deed.

But if he calls you to it, you can still prepare the way of the Lord.



Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

2 comments:

Alicia said...

Absolutely true and beautiful. Spo many of us feel like failures and underachievers because we are taught to seek approval from the world. We live with the knowledge of the grace that came with the Resurrection. We live in times when to have our 7 minutes of fame means that we matter. Its good to have a reminder for those at the beginning and at the end of our journey here. Its a hard thing living in the fallen world, and always has been. Thank God for grace and Hope.

Alicia

Jessica Snell said...

Amen, Alicia, well-said! Thank you for stopping by, and thank you also for your good words.