On the Me He Saved

The end of August marked one year since Ashley and I moved from our church here in Bloomington. I had been serving there as an associate minister for nearly five years when God called us to leave and search for a new church home. That was the beginning of a very interesting and winding journey. Leaving a church is difficult enough, but when God tells you He wants you to go somewhere, and doesn’t tell you exactly where, that is enough to make you truly lose it for a second. Graciously, God did not allow that (for too long). He took us through about six months of praying, visiting, and searching, until we found a great place to call our church home (City Church in Bloomington, Indianapolis). What He did along the way, however, is reveal more of His love and purpose for me.

This revelation was prompted by subtle critiques I received about the role I now played in the Christian community. From many, I heard, “So what will you be doing now”? Or, “Where are you preaching?” Some of the most piercing comments came from family, “At this new church, do you sit in the pulpit?” and “You’re still called, right?” In answering these questions over the last year, I have had the opportunity to assess what I really feel my relationship with God is built on. Is it built on the fact that I am someone in my Christian community or on something else? Through some soul searching and the revelation of the Holy Spirit, I found strength in who I was in God. This is best understood in the wise words of a dear friend who happens to be a preacher. He said, (paraphrasing) “Jeremy, the Lord loved us before we were called and He doesn’t love us because we are called. He just loves us.”

That is the testimony of my faith travels so far. I have seen that God did not call me because He wanted me to be a preacher – He called me because He loves me. That’s what I knew when I accepted Jesus Christ years ago. I had no clue about a calling, no aspirations of a title, no desire for a pulpit. I just wanted the relationship. I wanted the satisfaction and peace that came with knowing I was a child of the living God with a place secured in heaven with Him. That was enough for me. That is what God is getting me back to being – the me He saved. The one more concerned with His presence than with accolades or attention. That’s where I desire to be. That’s what I pray I am always traveling towards. I want to be someone grateful for my salvation and convinced it is available to all who ask.

In Romans, Paul describes a similar scenario. His desire is that the Israelites be saved. Although they are very enthusiastic and ritualistic about God, their knowledge of where their standing with God comes from is wrong. Paul is letting them know it does not come from their enthusiasm or rituals, but something more. Paul is reminding them that salvation comes from accepting and living for Jesus Christ, not how much we 'establish our own righteousness'. (Romans 10: 1-4 and 10 below)

I believe that in my life, God will use me to preach, teach, and lead. After some time now, I have accepted that and made peace with His plan for my life. However, I also believe there is a more pure and purposeful life God has for me. One dedicated to personal growth, love of family, and service to others. That is the me He desires, that is the me He saved.




* A little sum’ extra: Another nugget God has exposed through this process is the joy and privilege of serving people. Sometimes people in the church or in ministries become burnt out or jaded because they are overworked. This hiatus in formal ministry has given me the opportunity to step back, reassess my commitments, and enrich my personal walk. This experience has also left me burning to serve God again. Not just in a church, but everyday. I have definitely learned more about the value of serving God in formal ministry. But I have also seen the true joy of unexpected service; action not because you are a minister, but because you are a child of God. Both formally and informally, service is an honor.




Lord, You are all powerful, all knowing, and all encompassing. You have been my shield, sustainer, and strength. My prayer is that I continue to grow more like You. Lord, please remind us all of Your unconditional love for us. Please let it encourage and propel us to a life seeking Your truth. Thank You for loving us beyond any accomplishment or action. In the most sincere way possible, You just love us because we are Yours. Thank You!







Closer,
j.a.g.






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Romans 10:1-4 & 10 -
1Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3For they being ignorant of God's rigthousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the rightouesousness of God.
4For Christ is the end of the law to every one that believeth.

10For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

On Losing Bob and Gaining Insight

Preach the gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words.

- St. Francis of Assisi

Last week, the world lost a special person. Bob Vantine, a friend, mentor, and colleague of mine died after a long bout of illness. I met Bob in my position at Indiana University as an academic advisor. He was the assistant director of the program and was the epitome of a people-person. He loved reaching out to students and watching them become successful. He was also very well read. Nearly once a week, he would suggest a new educational model or text that was a "must read". I was always amazed at how he was able to read so much after being so busy.


What I gleaned from Bob the most however, was not his position in our program or his expansive reading lists. What I learned most from him is how much one can embody something without ever saying it. Confused?... Let me use a reference in scripture to explain...

In the book of Esther in the Bible, the words "God" or "Lord" are never mentioned. It has been said that this is the one book where God is not named. However, this one book displays so much of God's character. In it, Esther goes from rags to riches and becomes the queen of the kingdom. She then witnesses a plot to kill all those in her bloodline (Jews). Finally, she gathers enough courage and faith to overthrow the plot and save the Jewish people! (a great book in the Bible to study; there's also a pretty good movie on it - One Night With the King) How could she have done all this without God???

You see, Bob and I never talked much explicitly about faith or God. But I believe he knew God and believed in Christ. Much like the book of Esther, I could not always tell that from listening to him, but I could see it in his actions. In the tireless way he supported students, I saw Christ's love of children (Matthew 19:13-15; scriptures below). In the vigor of his defense of standards and order, I saw Christ's lack of patience with foolishness (Matthew 21:11-13). In the selfless way he spent his final months of diminishing health giving to others, I saw Christ's mission of sacrifice (Matthew 16:21).


Although Bob never openly talked about God with me, he lived his life as if he was being watched all along. As if, in his dealings with others, someone was watching and taking note. In looking at his life, I now see this more than ever. I truly believe that Bob is now away with the Maker, thanking Him for life, asking that He watch over the young, and, undoubtedly, suggesting a good book.




Gaining,
Jeremy







Lord, thank You for Bob. He was such an amazing person. Thank You for his example to me of what faithful service to youth should look like. God, thank You also for the wisdom of living a life that displays You. Let us all live out our purposes with the humble integrity, passion, and excellence you embody. Remind us that in doing this, we are truly "living witnesses".

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Matthew 19:13-15

13Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.
14But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
15And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

Matthew 21:11-13

12And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
13And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Matthew 16:21

From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.