Sunday, July 16, 2023

Discerning The Call

 Knowing when to Get out of the boat and take a risk does not only demand a courage; it also demands the wisdom to ask the right questions,  the discernment to recognize the voice of the Master, and the patience to wait for His command. Lord Jesus Christ is not looking for impulse-ridden Type Ts. He is looking the desire for what might be called the Type W, or water-walking personality. This involves the desire for adventure with God — the God-gene — and we all have one. It is part of our spiritual DNA. It requires both courage to take risks and wisdom to know which risks to take.


So how do I discern the difference between an authentic call from God to get out of the boat from my own rash impulse? 

How do I become a Type W follower? 

To probe this question further, let us   consider the biblical notion of calling.


Calling: A Reflection of God's Image


We begin with a theological question: What does God do all day! 

If you had to answer that question in a single word, what would you say? 

For most of us, if we are on an extended vacation or for some reason have a large block of unfilled time, What will I do today? is a major question. I'm bored is the primary complaint of both childhood and retirement. We are talking about the need to "kill some time such situations. God has all eternity. What does He do with all that time? Think He mostly sits around watching stuff ?

The biblical writers tell us what God Almighty does in a single phrase : He works. 

The opening lines in the Bible , of Genesis 1 are filled with God's work —He separates light from darkness,  He makes the sky and heavenly bodies, He gathers the waters, He forms first human beings from dust . The universe is run by God. 

O LORD, how manifold are YOUR works !

知道何时下船去冒险不仅需要勇气,还需要勇气。 它还需要提出正确问题的智慧,识别大师声音的洞察力,以及等待他命令的耐心。 主耶稣基督并不是在寻找冲动的 T 型人。 他正在寻找对所谓W型人格或水上行走人格的渴望。 这涉及到与上帝一起冒险的渴望——上帝基因——我们都有一个。 它是我们精神 DNA 的一部分。 承担风险既需要勇气,也需要智慧来知道要承担哪些风险。


 那么,我如何辨别上帝真实的呼召让我下船与我自己鲁莽的冲动之间的区别呢?

 我如何成为 W 型追随者?

 为了进一步探讨这个问题,让我们考虑一下圣经中呼召的概念。


 呼召:上帝形象的反映


 我们从一个神学问题开始:上帝整天都在做什么!

 如果你必须用一个词来回答这个问题,你会说什么?

 对于我们大多数人来说,如果我们正在休假或由于某种原因有大量空闲时间,我今天会做什么? 是一个主要问题。 我很无聊是童年和退休时的主要抱怨。 我们谈论的是需要“在这种情况下消磨一些时间。上帝拥有一切永恒。他用这些时间做什么?认为他大部分时间都坐在周围看东西?

 圣经作者用一句话告诉我们全能的上帝所做的事情:他工作。

 圣经创世记第一章的开头几行充满了上帝的工作——他将光明与黑暗分开,他创造了天空和天体,他聚集了水,他从尘土中创造了第一个人类。 宇宙是由上帝运行的。

 耶和华啊,你的作为何其多!

GOD IS 

CALLING YOU 

EQUIPPING YOU 

PREPARING YOU 

ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE

上帝在 Shàngdì zài

 呼召你、hū zhào nǐ,

装备你、zhuāngbèi nǐ,

让你按照他的目的做好准备

ràng nǐ ànzhào tā de mùdì zuò hǎo zhǔnbèi

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