Power with Purpose!

Sometimes shackles and chains can take on the most deceptive of guises:

For too long I carried a sort of hidden shame with regards to the calling that God has placed on my life. It always seemed to me that I needed to feel guilty about the talents that God placed in me because; compared with so many other Christian vocations, music seemed to be the easiest of jobs (Not always but since we are comparing...). I mean, Christians are supposed to suffer and be martyred and stuff like that right? So how come I get off so easy being called to do something as fun as “Jam for Jesus?”

The attack can come from the other end as well. Imagine, here you are plugging away at your job and all of a sudden, you get a chance to work with some heavy hitters in your field. What a thrill, right! But when it's all said and done, they go back to their “heavy hitter hideout,” and you get to stay in your little small-time, home-town ministry. I tell ya, satan just loves make you feel small and tell you that you'll never go anywhere else. What's worse is that many times, satan can lay off and we ourselves will happily take over for him, convincing ourselves that we will never grow beyond where we are now.

So off I went, comparing myself to other Christians and feeling bad because to me, music is fun and thoroughly enjoyable but compared to missionaries and those around the world that suffer for name of Jesus, I'm just a little league bench warmer, right? Or the blessing of working with good brothers and sisters that are further along in their ministry ends up making you feel small and insignificant. In the meantime God says, “Man! You really need to change your way of thinking.”

There comes a time when you begin to realize that being part of the body of Christ means that some parts do seem to have it easier than others. Some parts seem to be more glamorous than others. But you also begin to realize that grace is formed in us no matter what our calling and that grace will manifest itself in the form of strength for the persecuted, or humility for those that “have it easy.” It's still One Body and the head is Christ!

The guilt and insecurity have now been revealed for what they really are – distractions from my calling to the point that they could be called sin! I mean, how unthankful is it for me to go around being ashamed of my God-given talent and calling just because it isn't some form of physical suffering or sacrifice? All of that will be required of all Christians in due time because 2Ti 3:12 states, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

Paul admonishes us in Ephesians 4:1-3:

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

What a joy it is to acknowledge the great gift that God has so graciously given to me! I am thankful to be so anointed and blessed. I will be thankful and honor Him by walking in it, manifesting it, and striving to perfect it – bringing power and purpose together for His glory!