Showing posts with label Reluctant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reluctant. Show all posts

Friday, October 12, 2012

Reluctance


Giants of the faith are often reluctant to obey God. We of faith are asked to proclaim living, being, breathing, and relating with our Creator. Yet, we are reluctant and unsure. How will this happen? We are not alone in our questioning God.

How can I proclaim Christ? Me, Moses, a plain old shepherd. Once a prince, but no more, I threw away princely privilege the day I killed that man. I was balancing both worlds. Poorly, but I was. It was taking a toll on me, but I was getting it done. I lived in between. One foot in Egypt and one foot in with the Jews, the outcasts and slaves. My family. My heart was torn. I was hearing, “Throw both feet in with Me and take those shoes off. This is holy ground. Walk barefoot. Tread lightly. Listen closely.” God said, “I AM.”

I was standing next to a burning bush, but really walking over hot coals. He told me it was time to use those princely roots, that privilege, that power, to walk with exiles and outcasts. Time to leave behind a shepherd's life, but not the way I expected. I heard, “Proclaim me. Use words. Staffs. Rock. Clouds. Fire. Water.” I was hesitant. It would cost me everything. But how could I say no to my Friend? The scales tipped and I lost my balance. I lost my reputation. I lost the life of a prince and the life of a shepherd. Uncharted territory lay ahead and with a whole tribe of people I had been trying to forget my whole life when He said, “Set my people free.”

ตั้งคนของฉันฟรี

How can I proclaim Christ? Me, Samuel, a small boy. I'm little. I don't have influence. I do what adults tell me to. My mother wanted me so bad she gave me up. She prayed me into the family and then sent me away. No one asked what I wanted. Everyone says God has an amazing future for me, but I want my family. This temple is cold at night. There are no other children. I lay awake. I cry and miss them. I want to go home. I want to be like other children. Why am I here? Why am I set apart? I want to be like everyone else, but I'm strange. I hear voices. 

I thought it was Eli. The voice was old and wise and kind. I ran right to Eli. I ran to find out what he wanted and Eli said it was God. He said, “Listen.” I was listening and then the Lord spoke and said, “I am about to do something....”

Le Seigneur dit: Je suis sur le point de faire quelque chose ....

How can I proclaim Christ? Me, Ezekiel, an exhausted pastor. I have given everything to my calling. I have given up everything to obey. My wife died young. He took her, to teach His people. I was not allowed to mourn. I have nothing. I am a pastor, prophet, priest. I proclaim, but they don't listen. They don't care. My people decimate themselves with their own actions. They care not for God, nor for each other. Yet, He keeps telling me to proclaim Him. He said unto me, Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll, then go and speak to the people of Israel. " So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat. Then he said to me:" Son of man, eat this scroll I give you and fill your stomach with it. "So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.

En hij zeide tot mij: 'Mensenkind, eet wat is voor u, eet deze boekrol, ga dan naar en spreken met het volk van Israël. " Dus ik mijn mond open, en hij gaf me de bladeren te eten.Toen zei hij tegen mij: 'Mensenkind, eet deze boekrol Ik geef je en vul je maag mee. "Dus ik at het, en het smaakte zo zoet als honing in mijn mond.

How can I proclaim Christ? I, Gideon, the weakest of the weak. Look at me! What do you see? I am hiding in this wine press trying to thresh wheat to fill our empty bellies. I've been hungry for seven years. I am nothing and my family is nothing. Why me? And then the Lord appeared to me (Gideon) and he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior. Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”

"ה 'היא איתך, לוחם אדיר. לך בכוח שיש לך ולשמור את ישראל את ידו של מדין. אני לא שולח
אותך? "

How can I proclaim Christ? Me, a busy mother who struggles to raise her own children. Today has many worries. There is never enough time or enough love to make their aches alright. We live in a time when nothing is respected but rebellion and selfishness. I struggle to help my children have courage and be respectable, and it's a losing battle! 

Tending children is a lot like tending sheep and people respect it the same. They tell you otherwise, but you know your rank on the hierarchy. No rank. I'm to encourage unloved kids? Kids enslaved in a world system where there is no love, only leverage. Me? The world says their destiny is set and their future wrote by the bricks of life they've accumulated. You want me to tell them You have a future for them and you will open the vast sea that accesses freedom? I'm going to do that? Me, of no rank? And then He said, “I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free.”

Я слышал их стоны и пришли, чтобы освободить их.

How can I proclaim Christ? Me, a woman alone. I have nothing. I am nothing. That's what you tell me. But, you will not put me in your box. I am unique. Yet, each day a million little things remind me I am alone. You remind me. I provide for myself, no one else will, in a world where connections mean everything. If I were male the scales would tip in my favor. Each day I am reminded my life hangs in the balance. I am Naomi. I am Ruth. I am white. I am black. I am African. I am Asian. I am right in front of you. I am. Yet, you do your best to not see me. Well, I see you. Each day is a struggle to survive, but I will thrive. I will show you. I will overcome and when I do I will be a force to contend with and I will lift others up. You won't stop me. My voice will be heard. I keep marching forward because He tells me, “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

Katika mambo haya yote sisi ni zaidi ya kushinda, kwa yeye aliyetupenda.

How can I proclaim Christ? Me, a small student. One of many. Indistinguishable from the rest as far as the world is concerned. I'm trying to be seen, to be heard, to have a voice. I want to learn. I want to know what you won't tell me. I haven't given up yet, but at the same time I'm living for another world. I forget that sometimes. Along with my math and spelling. I'm supposed to live out loud? I know I should set one foot in front of the other today. I will say yes today. The small moments of my life add up. They become a life. They become a light to others. So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Ya sea que coman o beban o hagan cualquier otra cosa, háganlo todo para la gloria de Dios.

Reluctant men, women and children proclaim Christ. They live Christ. They rise above circumstances. They overcome. They say “yes” even when it costs them. He makes us to overcome that we may live. In a world where there is pain, poverty, confusion and death, there is life. There is a LIFE. Lead others to life. 

להתגבר על ולהוביל אחרים לחיים.

Moses = Exodus 3, Thai
Samuel = Samuel 3, French
Ezekiel = Ezekiel 3, Dutch
Gideon = Judges 6, Hebrew
Mother = Acts 7, Russian
Woman alone = Romans 8, Swahili
Student = 1 Corinthians 10, Spanish 

Language translation courtesy of Google Translate
Please forgive any incorrect grammar!