Passionate Pursuit

This blog is designed to give people an inner look at a devotional life. Taking time each day to spend time with the Lord. The hope is if you travel on this journey with Rev. Jacob Shaw, you may be more inclined to spend time with the Lord as well. I encourage the use of a devotional, a scripture reading and prayer, then finally a song, hymn or selection of poetry to tie it all together. 

Today's devotional is taken from: Vujicic, Nick. Limitless Devotions for a Ridiculously Good Life. Colorado Springs, CO: Waterbrook Press, 2013. pp 127-130.

Opening Thought: When we are called by God to do something of importance, we will get a feeling which seems to pull us out of our comfort zone. Often, if not always, we are met with a sinister voice telling us that we are not equipped to do something so wonderful, so we might as well not. Nick shares a story about a peer of his who had a long life of abuse, mental illness and childhood trauma; a personal story which would make the toughest of us cringe. In a pathway that not one expected, God pulled this particular man out into the world to share his story and be a light of inspiration for other. Our pursuits in the love of God can take us from any situation and move us to a life of blessing, doesn’t mean it is not going to be difficult as heck, but it will be worth it.   

The devotional begins with: John 9:4

As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.

Second Thought:

This passage is saying, in one sense, take the opportunity to work in the ways that God calls you to while you still can. Things in life can change fast, and often why people miss out on what God is calling them to is because they are stuck behind hesitation, fear and anxiety. Sometimes what stops us is built because we have been victims of a series of horrible circumstance, sometimes we have been the perpetrators of bad behaviour thus we assume we are not worthy because we have sinned, sometimes it’s both. God will call on who He see fit, who you have been is not the point, it is who you can become.

Though I think the vast majority of people have experiences a little of being victim and perpetrator from time to time, just not on grand scales, but rather for the most part people feel their lives to be rather mundane and simple, and thus feel God would not call them to great importance. Two quick thoughts on this, one, sometimes that may be exactly what we need; something a little less disruptive. Sometimes God needs the good hard work of everyday people to move things to His favor. Two, sometimes the most important things are the work of everyday people, the little things, the simple things, and even the mundane.       

Continual Work: Work hard to notice when you are being call by God and work just as hard to recognize yourself as a useful part of the body of Christ. God will use you for great things if you open yourself up to the possibility. A good way to help with this process is seeking and offering forgiveness.  

What Rev. Jacob is Working On: 

Scripture time: Mat 26:34 - Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”

Even those who were up close and personal with Jesus in history fell short, it didn’t mean that God stopped keeping them in His back pocket when he needed them. Peter denied Jesus three times, even after he was warned. I think we would all like to think that the ones God will choose will be the best of us but I rather think it’s more the way of God will choose ordinary people and bring out the best in them, that doesn’t mean we wont make mistake, it rather means that through God’s help we can continue to heal and restore all sorts of mistakes, ours and others. Knowing that through God we become the best version of ourselves is a wonderful knowledge, and the knowledge will be made aware to you the more you engage with God as an active member of your life story. 

Closing Words: I hope you enjoyed and were lifted by this devotional time; it is truly important to take time for God each day. By doing so, you welcome God into your life, and in turn you will be able to better see the world through the eyes of God, rather than God through the world's eyes.

Artistic Close: Here I Am, Lord

I, the Lord of sea and sky
I have heard my people cry
All who dwell in dark and sin
My hand will save
I who made the stars of night
I will make their darkness bright
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord
Is it I, Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night
I will go, Lord
If You lead me
I will hold Your people in my heart

I, the Lord of wind and flame
I will tend the poor and lame
I will set a feast for them
My hand will save
Finest bread I will provide
'Til their hearts be satisfied
I will give my life to them
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord
Is it I, Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night
I will go, Lord
If You lead me
I will hold Your people in my heart
I will hold Your people in my heart