Online Archives

Isaiah 6:1-8; Romans 8:12-17; John 3:1-17

BY JOYE JONES

I still remember when I became aware of God calling me to ordained ministry. It had been only a short time since I had returned to the church to worship after an absence of more than 20 years.

That in itself had been a life-changing experience, God?s calling me back into community. 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' And I had answered enthusiastically, 'Here I am, send me!'

I became very active in my local church, becoming a 'professional' church member, one of those folks who would do pretty much anything around the church.

But then God got very serious, and I finally understood: God was calling me into ordained ministry. This was an altogether different proposition and my answer was definitive: 'Not me, Lord, not me.'

Like Jonah, I headed in the other direction. But God wins, as usual, and one day, sitting in the chapel at Wesley Seminary, singing that great hymn, 'Here I Am Lord,' I found myself answering, 'Here I am, send me!'

Well, at least that settled it, once and for all ? or so I thought.

But life in Christ rarely turns out to be what we expect, and I?ve had to face that question again and again, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?'

In our daily walk of discipleship, I believe we frequently confront God?s question.

It seems so easy. God?s call goes out. Well, of course, we?ll go ? until we understand where it is we?re called to go and what it is we?re called to do. Then the dilemma appears.

If we say yes, there will be a cost. It might be a cost we?re willing to pay ? a little time, a little effort, no big deal. Or it might be too high, too costly ? job, friends, standing in the community, maybe more.

'Well, Lord, I?m not sure about this. Why don?t you ask somebody else?' But the call comes again, 'Whom shall I send?' And it?s time to choose.

The Apostle Paul reminds us in Romans of who we are and who we have become. As Eugene Peterson gives it to us, 'This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It?s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike ?What?s next, Papa?? God?s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are.'

And God asks again, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Go outside your comfort zone? All the way to the cross?

To be Easter people is to be filled with the adventurous Spirit of God. Through that very Spirit we know who we are ? and we know we have God?s power available to us. And through that very Spirit we are able to say with conviction, 'Here I am, send me,' because we have received not the spirit of fear but the Spirit of God.

The Rev. Joye Jones is the pastor of Good Shepherd UMC in Silver Spring.

A DEVOTIONAL for the Discipleship Adventure

Celebrate: This Sunday, as you worship, really consider the words of the hymns and songs that you are singing and the words of the Scriptures as they are read. Listen for what the message is for you today. What is God calling you to do or be?

Connect: Approach someone whose faith walk you admire and ask her or him to tell you how she or he heard God?s call and what is was like answering it.

Develop: Read a commentary on this week?s reading, taken from another tradition. One suggestion is the weekly online commentary found at http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/ written by an Anglican priest.

Serve: The Isaiah reading depicts an experience of worship where angels were the 'servers' in the temple. As a response to this reading, volunteer this week to help the worship committee or pastor prepare the chancel for worship either by cleaning or preparing a special visual setting.

Share: Tell a friend what your service in 'the temple' meant to you.