When you have a calling there will be all kinds of things that divert your attention. There will always be a temptation to take an easy route. Shortcuts are everywhere and they are appealing.
When I was a kid I had a love/hate relationship with the movie The Wizard of Oz. Those darn monkeys always freaked me out. I couldn’t stop watching it though. Now that I am older the story has taken on a whole new meaning. The companions of the yellow brick road were tempted to take a different way. Other paths looked more appealing. They held strong until the Emerald City was in sight. Then they ran through the poppy field, flowers couldn’t hurt them, could they? They did hurt and the crew almost missed out on making it to their destination.
There are great parallels between that story and our callings. When God has called you to something it will be hard to stay the course. It seems that there is always something that gets in the way. I think this happens because we have to learn how to live by faith in those moments. If there were no bumps then we would not develop trust and faith in the one who cares for us and will provide for us.
As I follow God launching the Antioch Movement I am to create an attraction centered ministry. It is appealing to think about creating something to draw the masses. It is appealing to think about speaking to hundreds of people from the pulpit. It is appealing to consider what it would be like to have the coolest band in town. It is appealing to imagine drawing the coolest crowd on a Sunday morning. (But, that is not what God has called me to do. I am grateful for my friends who have this calling. It’s beautiful to see them living our their callings. All different ministries make up the Church. I’m not downplaying the others, even a little bit.)
I remember two important concepts that I’ve learned in my almost 20 years of ministry. First, how you get people is how you keep people. So, if you get folks through the show, then you keep them that way. That means that you have to be more entertaining, more exciting, more flashy all the time. Second, you have to begin with the end in mind. If your goal is to build disciples then start that way. If your goal is to have lots of people then start that way. How you start usually drives you down a road that with a particular end.
What’s your calling? What diversions attract your attention? What is your poppy field?
The post Hold On To Your Calling appeared first on The Journal by Daniel M. Rose. It was written by Daniel M. Rose.
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