By Ramesh C.Reddy
Pittsburgh Standard

Monday, Jan 19, 2009

SCRIPTURE:
^"When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed." "Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.” (Mark 6:2-3, NIV)

Observations:
I asked myself what were the questions those that heard Jesus asked?

I asked myself what was their reaction after the questions?
And they took offense at him.

I decided to focus on point 3 today since I focused on "Where do you seek W.I.S.D.O.M this New Year of 2009?" (Jan 17, 09, 9:52 a.m.) on Saturday!

Interpretations:
I asked myself what is the significance of their question, “Isn’t this the carpenter?”
As a carpenter, they would have expected Jesus to make crosses, tables, chairs or anything made of wood. They did not expect Jesus to teach in the Synagogue, amazing the crowds with His wisdom and miracles. And yet that’s what Jesus did! Many of them must have known Jesus to be in the carpentry business to think ‘isn’t this the carpenter?’. Now Jesus was amazing them with His Words and miracles, so they wondered how that could be. What they do not realize is Jesus had a calling and it was in God’s timing.

Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life here. Jesus was in the business of carpentry but He also had a higher calling while He was on earth. Whatever my job is if the Lord wants to use me, he can. My job may have nothing to do with ministry but the Lord can open doors to ministry if that is His calling for me. He will give me the words and power to do ministry for Him and His Kingdom. This means even though my credentials might be in academia, He can still use me in other areas.

I am reminded of my own life when I felt called into the ministry after getting my degree in psychology. Originally my mission had been to counsel broken hearts with the love of Christ.

Later, I felt my mission was the University of Pittsburgh campus where I saw myself as a missionary from India and the campus being a country. The dormitories were small cities for me that I wanted to reach with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The class rooms became small towns. My student ID became my VISA to get entrance into the country of Pitt. I realized to reach the population of Pitt, I needed to adapt to Pitt culture. So, I would go to games and become an avid fan in hopes of making people see that a follower of Christ can have fun too. I would take classes as a means to reach students with the Gospel. More than anything, I decided tent-making where I would work within the University to make a living and have opportunities to present the Gospel.

People would wonder and still wonder what I am doing at Pitt when I have different degrees with multiple minors and can do as high as U.S. Secret Service. Yet, I have felt so strong about ministry. The answer for me is God’s calling. 

I have been honored to do campus ministry with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship for couple of years at Pitt and meet students from other chapters too. Now I work full-time with Sodexho Dining Services as a floor manager at Pitt but it is a blessing because of the opportunities to still do ministry. I love my job as a means to do ministry when opportunities arise.

I share this with you because people can think something about you but when you sense God’s calling and act out in faith, it could baffle them and confuse them but just as Jesus continued to teach in the synagogue and do miracles because it was God’s calling for Him, I want to continue doing  ministry.  As I go out in faith, if I make a wrong choice, I know the Lord will make it right before it is too late.

Even though I have not be ordained as a pastor because I do not have a seminary degree, I felt I should do ministry online and did it for almost 40 hrs a week aside from my job few years ago.  People online asked me if I was a pastor. That was very touching but more than anything it confirmed to me that I did not need a seminary degree to preach the Gospel and be used by the Lord as I allow His Holy Spirit to work in me and through me. This however in no way means when the opportunity arises, I should not take it to go into seminary if the Lord Jesus wants that for me.

Those I was ministering to online also sent me money so I could continue to do the ministry and cut down my job hours. I knew the Lord was using me to save souls on the internet, disciple people, and make an impact on campus too. It is because of His will and choosing as I make myself available to Him.

Just as many thought what Jesus was doing did not match His profession, it is possible people could think the same way about you. But the bottom line is whatever we are called to do, the Lord will provide the means and the way.

He is the One that helps to present the Gospel to others and share what I have been learning in my devotional times with others. I do not worry that I do not have a seminary degree because I know the Holy Spirit can speak through me as His vessel when He chooses and most of all through His Word.

He can use you too but you have to follow God's calling. I do not have a seminary degree not because I do not want it. If the Lord calls me into seminary, I need to go but that is not my calling right now.

Wherever the Lord Jesus has placed me, I have seen those as opportunities and means to reach students with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I started http://www.pittsburghstandard.com online as a means to ministry and the Lord Jesus has used the paper for that purposes as souls have come into Kingdom of God. Also, the EDUCATION section of the newspaper has been used as a means to ministry too when I prepare study guide questions for students to prepare for the real exam and have Bible verses embedded in them while I take a class here and there for ministry purposes.

I started http://www.facebook.com too as a means to ministry and have seen the Lord Jesus use facebook to bring souls into His Kingdom.

If the Lord has called you to an area, He will provide the means for you to accomplish His purposes His ways. Yes, He will! Amen!

I ask you now dear friend, what do you do with your C.A.L.L.I.N.G in life?
Dear friend, as we remember Martin Luther King Jr., for what he did with his calling, each of us has a calling too and we can only take our calling seriously only when we realize what Jesus Christ did for us and follow His example in principle. At first, Jesus worked as a carpenter building things. It is very well possible that Jesus could have built the cross too that He was crucified on before starting His ministry. We do not know but there is that possibility. Jesus was called into the ministry to proclaim the Kingdom of God and for people to turn from their sins but Jesus knew His ultimate calling was to give His life for humanity, for a world in bondage to sin. Jesus obeyed His calling no matter how painful, hard, or troubling the circumstances looked.

To accomplish the mission of His calling, Jesus went to the cross and died for you and me so that we could be cleansed by His precious cleansing blood. Yes, friend, Jesus did that for you and me. His blood was shed for you and His body was broken for you so you can be delivered from the bondage of sin as you turn to Jesus. Jesus was in agony knowing the death He would face on the cross and yet Jesus' words were, 'Not my will, but your will be done'.

Jesus obeyed His calling and because of that we can enjoy Eternal Life and Salvation by grace no matter what we have done or where we have been when we acknowledge our sin, confess and repent of our sin, believing in our heart that Jesus paid the price to set us free, that He came back to life on the 3rd day to save us, and sits at the right Hand of the Father now. This is awesome to know that Jesus started as a carpenter and later became more than a carpenter but using the profession He was in to give us Eternal life.

Because Jesus took His calling seriously we need to do the same in principle. This means each of us may be in a position right now where people identify us based on our academic major or occupation title: isn’t this the carpenter?, isn’t this the engineer?, isn’t this the doctor?, etc but our first calling should be to the Lord.

As we reflect today on Martin Luther King Day, let us remember his calling too. He was called to be a preacher but more than that too. He felt called to put an end to the injustice of racial prejudice, racial discrimination, etc and fought for it. He paid with his life after his wonderful speech of 'I HAVE A DREAM TODAY....'

But you know what?

We see the fruit of his calling being experienced this day. Just tomorrow, we will be inaugurating our first African-American president of the United States in Barack Obama. That is exciting my friend whether we voted for him or not because the calling Martin Luther King took seriously and acted upon has brought fruit this day even though it has been more than 40 years.

Jesus is calling us now. Seek Him and He will reveal His calling to you. Most of all, I can tell you that when Jesus Christ died on the cross, was buried, and came back to life to save, He was calling humanity to Him.

Jesus is calling us to be His very own. We are precious and special in His sight! This is exciting to know! Yes, friend no matter what you are faced with, you are special, Oh yes you are. You are precious, oh yes you are! The Lord Jesus loves you so much. You can be His. That is His ultimate calling for you and me. Hardships, trials, and tribulations should not stop that.

Now the secondary calling comes in our profession or professions. We can remain in our profession and still do ministry for the Lord if that is how He has called us. At other times, we will be asked to leave the profession we are in and take up the new calling. Hardships should not stop us here to if we know this is what the Lord Jesus is calling us to do as our secondary calling.

The Lord who calls you to anything will always provide the means and support to get you through. He will never call you to something without properly equipping, enabling, and empowering you. So whatever your calling is, trust in the Lord and in the power of His might. It is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord. It is possible to have multiple callings and the Lord will bless them if it be His will for you.

You can be called to be a doctor and do missionary work as a doctor; you can be called to be a lawyer and work for a Christian law firm such as American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ); you can be called to be an Engineer and also a Sunday school teacher; you could be called to be a pastor and also be called to be married, etc.

The important thing is seeking the Lord to know your calling. If it is a career, academics, relationships, etc seek the Lord and His will, then He will make it known to you and give you the peace. If the Lord speaks to you through His peace being instilled in you, you know He will instill that peace for you, for the decisions you have to make. I have also seen the Lord use other people to give others peace about a decision to know if that is God’s calling. The Lord can also directly speak to you through His Word about His calling for you and give you the peace regarding that calling. Whatever the way the Lord chooses to speak to you, act in faith and leave the results in the Lord’s Hands.

If the Lord has called you to something and you are sure about it, He will make sure it happens. If it does not happen then many times we misread the calling and need to seek the Lord to make it clear to us. He will make it clear in the ways He speaks to us! Most of all we have His Word to direct us and lead us, as we depend on Him through prayer and also the help He wants to give us through His Church. It is important to remember that every calling of God also has His perfect timing whether it be a career change, academics, or relationships. His will could be, that something is His calling for your life but He has to match it with His perfect timing.

My calling right now is to continue to reach out to students with the love of Christ using my job as a means to ministry, classes as a means to ministry when I take them, facebook as a means to ministry, and http://www.pittsburghstandard.com as a means to ministry.

A related devotional has to do with Jesus calling the disciples who were fisherman to follow Him. This is one of my favorite devotionals I got to learn from the Lord.

Mark 1:16-18: "What do you do with your P.R.O.F.E.S.S.I.O.N in life?" (Sept 04, 08, 10:51 a.m.)

May you know your calling and be assured of it, for Jesus will not take you on any path of calling without equipping, enabling, and empowering you! Amen! Turn to the Lord in prayer and expect His loving answer for Christ's answers lovingly lead, imparting nurturing grace! Amen!

“Christ’s Answers Lovingly Lead, Imparting Nurturing Grace!” (C.A.L.L.I.N.G)/”What do you do with your C.A.L.L.I.N.G in life?”

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for letting me learn about calling. You Oh Lord were a carpenter and yet you had a higher calling that amazed the crowds and made them think how it could be. Lord, you know the jobs we have and what we are called to. Sometimes, we go our own way and miss the calling you have for our lives. Sometimes we even let love or our own insecurities blind us from the calling you have for us. Forgive us when we do that and take us on the right path please. Jesus, your children are seeking you for different reasons and want to know your will. Some need to know the job you want them to have, others need to know the one you want them to seek as their partner in marriage. Even those who date need to know if  the one they are dating is the right one, if they should be engaged, and then married. You alone Oh Lord have the answers to our calling. You Oh Lord have a calling for our lives and we need and want to know your will.  Thank you so much more than anything you called us to be your very own! We desire for your will and your way in our lives so no matter what the outcome is we can have the peace that it is the wisdom that came from you. Please help us Lord. And Lord, there are times we need to  believe and go out in faith when we feel called to something, so help us to do that as we depend on you. If we have made the wrong choice, we thank you that you will point it out before it is too late. We know you will because you go with us, are mighty to save, delight in us, and quiet us with your love. We need that so much in our lives as we seek you for the calling of our lives in all areas. Thank you so much Jesus. Jesus, if what we believed to be your calling does not seem to happen, please let our pain be covered by your peace if I may ask Lord. Please point us in the right direction. Thank you so much Jesus. Thank you that you hear  us and have answered us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much that we are never out of your love. No matter what is tormenting us, you are there for us. When there are days we cannot get through and loneliness has gotten the best of us because we are isolated in our torment and sin, you are still there. Just as the demon-possessed man saw you, ran to you, and fell before you for healing, we can come to you too. Thank you Jesus! You made yourself available to the man with the evil spirit. Thank you Jesus for making yourself available to us now when we call your Name for we are never out of your love and never out of your reach. You Oh Lord know what we have done; you know what we will do. You know what Satan will do to entice us and torment us. We come to you Lord and ask you for your healing presence in our lives. Take any addiction and torment that people face and fill them with your power to live for you. We know you can do it Jesus. Only you have the power to deliver us from any torment and find peace in you. Thank you so much Jesus. We come to you now Jesus and ask you to forgive us of all our sin. Deliver us Oh Lord and cleanse us with your cleansing blood. We believe in you Jesus; we believe you are the Son of God, we believe that you died and rose again; we believe you are here right now standing in our presence with the power to heal now and the grace to forgive. Help us Oh Lord as we turn this song “I Believe” into a prayer to you Oh Lord. Thank you so much for coming into our heart and making our heart your home as we ask you in. Take us in Oh Lord and be our Lord and Personal Savior as you lead us and guide us. Help us to help others as you help us! Thank you so much Jesus you are in our heart making our heart your home. Thank you for living in us. Thank you for being our Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you Jesus you have heard our prayers and answered us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!