On Being Sent...

2014 Summer Staff Photo

Have you ever been sent somewhere? 

I have. 

Usually it's to the store, to collect some grocery items for a family member or friend. Sound familiar? Once you are old enough to drive and have a car it's only a matter of time until you're heading some place to fulfill the wishes of someone who has the ability to compel you to do their bidding.

Wait, that sounded negative.

Once you are old enough to drive and have a car, it's only a matter of time until you are able to do things for the people that you care about.

Much better.

When you've been sent to do something, it usually involves having a very specific purpose.

Example:

   buzz, buzz <incoming text message>

   MOM: Need eggs.

   Reply: Just left store.

   MOM: Need eggs.

   Reply: ...

   MOM: Go back.

   Reply: OK

   MOM: THANK YOU

Also, when you're sent to do something, you probably have some good faith basis that the task is necessary. Let's imagine I arrived home only to find that their were plenty of eggs hiding behind the milk! The next time I am asked to pick-up anything from the grocery store you can imagine I'll ask, '...did you look behind the milk?'

Aside from this hypothetical situation, the reason I bring it up is because I have been reading a lot about people who were sent to do things in the Bible.

Examples:

Numerous OT prophets who were sent to warn the Hebrews and/or kings of Israel and Judah. 

Jonah (Jonah 1-4; sent by God to speak to the people of Nineveh)

Saul/Paul (Acts 9:6; sent by God into Damascus) 

Paul (Acts 16:9-10; Paul sent/called to Macedonia)

Timothy (1 Corinthians 4:17; sent by Paul to the church in Corinth) 

Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25; sent by Paul to the church in Philippi)

Onesimus (Philemon 1:12; sent by Paul back to his master)

Usually, the focus today is on the 'call' to ministry. When someone feels like God is preparing them to walk down the path that travels towards Christian leadership, or to a specific place (like a church/different church). It's such a powerful thing when someone feels like God wants them to do something, and people either answer the call or forgo it. 

I wonder, though, if there are people out there today who experience a Christian 'sending' verses a 'calling'. When someone we trust, or even God, takes us out of the situation we're in and places us somewhere else. I realize there are all sorts of freewill problems with this kind of thinking, but I can imagine a God, who, like a parent, intervenes in the world to rescue (and prosper) His children. 

Think about it: Would you, in faith and for a necessary purpose, accept a specific task from God or someone you trust?

I did forget to include one other great example of a sending: Jesus. (John 3:16-17) Probably the best example of a 'necessary purpose' and a 'specific task' in the Bible.  

Some people will feel called to ministry this summer at camp; it's an exciting and wonderful opportunity to serve others. What will keep me up at night (among other things) will be the idea that perhaps some people will be responding (maybe even against their own hearts) to a sending, where God or someone they trust tells them to join us at PSR for our 2015 season. 

Let us pray today that we'll all have the courage to accept the times we are 'called' or 'sent' to do God's will, and trust that He has a plan. 

We'll see you at camp! 

-Jeremy