Courage for Adventure

Each of us has a very special purpose from God - we have been called into a love relationship with Him, and into service for our King.  Here is what Peter wrote in 1st Peter chapter 2:
9But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;10who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

So, as we recognize that we have a unique calling from God and a definitive giftedness to be used for His honor and glory, we can identify that thing or those things about which we are the most passionate.  I believe that He will give us the desire to be used of Him and will show us specific assignments that He desires for us to do.  And, even if we feel inferior to accomplish what we have been assigned to do, we can still be confident that He will provide the resources and inner strength that we need to do His will.

God is calling us to pursue Him and experience the adventure of a life devoted to following Him and experiencing more of His love expressed through us.  Here are the words of 1st Thessalonians 5:
23Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.24He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

Words of tribute are being spoken about the journalist who was executed by the Islamist terror group ISIS on a video released this past Tuesday.   40-year-old James Foley is being remembered for his bravery and his willingness to take the tough assignments.   He had been held captive 44 days in 2011 in Libya, and was captured again in 2012.  According to a piece on the CNN Belief Blog, in between those periods of captivity, he wrote an article for the Marquette University alumni magazine, in which he said that he prayed while imprisoned that his family, many miles away, would somehow know that he was safe.

When he was finally allowed to call home, Foley reportedly asked his mother, Diane, “Haven’t you felt my prayers?”  She told her son that his friends and family had been praying, too, holding vigils filled with former professors, priests and Marquette students. She echoed his question back: Have you felt ours?

He had, the journalist, who was described as a Catholic, said. “Maybe it was others’ prayers strengthening me, keeping me afloat,” Foley wrote.

ReligionNews.com states that account after account describes the Foleys as determined, faithful Roman Catholics, saying that they appear to be a family held together by faith. In their appearance in front of their home Wednesday, John and Diane Foley made frequent references to God.

His father John said, “He’s not reckless...He’s been doing this conflict reporting for almost eight years.”

WCVB quotes John as posing the question, ""Why do firemen keep going back to blazing homes?...This was his passion. He was not crazy. He was motivated by what he thought was doing the right thing...that gave him energy to continue despite the risk."

His mother remembers him telling her, "Mom, I found my passion, I found my vocation."

Journalist Max Fisher is quoted by ReligionNews.com (from Fox News) as saying, “Jim’s faith was something we all agreed not to discuss publicly while he was held in Syria, but it was the wellspring of his generosity.” 

James Foley was in pursuit of a story, but not in a sensational way, but he was apparently driven to go into war zones or difficult situations to communicate the truth.  He had a passion, there was a faith component, and he purposed to use his skills in order to pursue that passion.

So, what is it that drives you?   James Foley wanted to tell the story.  Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol were released from the hospital this week after contracting the life-threatening Ebola virus while attempting to minister to patients afflicted by it.  They, too, were willing to put their lives on the line in response to their passion.

I think these stories, and so many more, can provide a gut check for us - do we have a passion? Something that we live for, a purpose for which that God has gifted us to pursue?  James Foley was commended for his bravery - perhaps we can look deep within us and find courage to do what God has called us to do.  

Maybe there is a burning desire that you can identify, to do something extraordinary for the glory of God.   So what's lacking?   The giftedness?  Well, remember the old saying that what God appoints, He anoints.  The training?  If necessary, that may be something that He is calling you to acquire, bringing you out of your comfort zone so that you can be adequately prepared for the task at hand.   The power?   He can equip and encourage us as we pursue His path for our lives, following His Spirit into an adventurous life of service to Him.

How wonderful!  There is the possibility that He will call us outside our comfort zones in order to experience a new level of service to Him, and receive the blessings of blessing others.