The fourth Tuesday in advent
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Isaiah 7:10–16 Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying, 11Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. 12But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test. 13Then Isaiah said: "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? 14Therefore the LORD himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. 15He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.
I love these Isaiah texts because Judah’s history at this time is so fascinating and King Ahaz has to be the epitome of evil. Here in this reading Ahaz refuses to listen to the word of God for which he and his country would ultimately be sorry.
Someone once told me that nothing is so useless or evil that it can’t serve as a bad example. Ahaz and his refusal to hear and heed God’s word is case in point. We all have been like Ahaz at times. But rather than focus on how I have failed (which we all need to do at times) this morning I’d rather recall and learn from the times I have heard and heeded God’s word and will for me.
When I retired from full time pastoral ministry over a year ago, I told our Bishop and his assistants that I wanted no part of interim ministry. “If I wanted to continue working in a parish ," I said, "I would not have retired.” I found myself filling in just on Sunday mornings at The Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd until they could find a new interim. When Chris Lowe, Council President, asked if I would be their interim pastor, I politely declined. But the second time she asked, I thought perhaps God was using Chris to call me. (You know God uses us like that!) I heard and I heeded. I have been so thankful that I was listening. The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd has been a blessing to me. Like Ahaz, I had my mind made up. Unlike Ahaz I was open to God’s call.
So when have you heard and heeded God’s call?
Stir up your power, O Lord, and come. Open our ears to your call and bless us as we follow. AMEN
A person I know says God calls by making us want to do certain good deeds. God does work in us to "will and do His good pleasure". But there are certain good things I don't feel inclined to do. Am I off the hook? This devotion makes me think that I should be more receptive to fleeting opportunities that might be of God. I've always found that when I go to a funeral or send a memorial remembrance even for people I know less well that it has been the right thing to do. Perhaps the lesson is that God gives us many opportunities of which we miss too many. I pray I'll not miss so many because I'm tired, busy, or whatever. Many never come again.
ReplyDeleteGreat thoughts, David!! Very insightful.
ReplyDeleteOn internship, way back in '93-'94, I preached on the call of Samuel. Remember how he only "got" that it was God on the FOURTH call--and only with the aid/insight of Eli? My call to seminary and then to parish/pastoral ministry was like that: I had to hear the call many times over in different ways, from different people, before I fully answered.
Then, about 2-1/2 years ago, I started to sense a call to LEAVE parish/pastoral ministry. Now THAT'S one you don't hear about every day! We make the mistake of speaking of pastoral ministry as a "calling" and neglecting often to affirm that musicianship can be a calling, or parenting, or being the best and most customer-caring mechanic in town. Well, over the course of a year and a half it became clear to me--and I had to hear it from friends, bishop, colleagues, family--that God was indeed calling me, at least for a time (the Spirit hasn't told me yet whether it is "permanent"), not just OUT of pastoral ministry but INTO a new form of ministry: assisting people with their writing projects, i.e. copy editing, to ensure their message comes across as clearly and engagingly as possible. Only a handful of my projects have been overtly faith-related, but I am convinced I am called to this work, and that it is a ministry.
P.S. Regarding the kings of Isaiah's time, if you enjoy historical fiction--or even if you're not sure, but are open to trying it, which is how I was--an EXCELLENT rendering of this biblical time frame and of Ahaz and his family (I think it deals w/ both his ancestors and his descendants; can't remember for sure) is the 5-novel series, "Chronicles of the Kings," by Lynn Austin. You would find it in Christian sections of bookstores like Barnes & Noble. I can't recommend it highly enough. Her writing is truly Bible-based, and then she adds in much, much more, but never (in my view) compromising the biblical story. And, though I don't believe she is Lutheran, her theology *could* be. She's my all-time favorite author!
How blessed we at Good shepherd have been that you heard and heeded God's call!
ReplyDeleteI felt called almost 5 years ago to take over the treasurer's job (along with my husband) even though I really did not want the responsibility....
This is scary. Before I even read Kate's entry, I thought of the exact same thing. I really felt called at the retreat when it was discussed that we needed a new treasurer. We were on our was home that day and we decided to take on the position as a team. Sometimes it's a pain, but I know that we try to do a good job and it is something that needs done.
ReplyDeleteI was raised from childhood in the teachings and traditions of the church. However, it was all in my head and not in my heart. When I was about 23, I found myself on a long flight and alone with my thoughts and meditations. During that time, I became AWARE that the Lord was calling me to be one of his own. I found myself no longer resisting, but rather simply and quietly accepted that call and have been bound in that relationship for all eternity. Praise the Lord!
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