And the special gift of ministry you received when I laid hands on you and prayed—keep that ablaze! God doesn’t want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible.
2 Timothy 1:7 The Message (MSG)
How do you find your ministry or mission? Look to God but you can also look to yourself. God created you to be you.
I have recently undertaken a course to be a Local Worship Leader and having passed was put on the leadership rota for the benefice. The first service I took, I opened up the service book and led the service. I made no mistake, the service ran smoothly. But something was wrong. The mistake was mine. It wasn’t me who led that service, it was the person who wrote the words. The words are not wrong and the service as it is blesses many different people. So what was wrong?
Years ago I was a rebel but God doesn’t want rebellion, He wants pioneers. His own Son demonstrated what being a pioneer meant. So what is a pioneer? A pioneer is someone who inspires people to leave the safe place to go somewhere dangerous. Jesus many years ago dared His disciples and they took up the challenge and many died.
So what was wrong? I was not taking the service God asked me to take. God chose me to become a worship leader because I am not afraid to take a risk. Taking risks can lead to mistakes but it can also lead to something special, something new, something alive. God chose me because of who I am. I didn’t need new gifts or a special calling. I had been called when God shaped me in my mother’s womb. When God allowed me to go through my life’s experiences. My joys, my sorrows, my journeys and my wonders. I am unique. Nobody else will go through life as I have done and those collective experiences together with the gifts God has given me, make me.
So when you look in the mirror, God has a calling for you. It is waiting for you when….
Christ above me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ around me,
this day, this night,
each day, each night.
Amen