Finding Your "Must"

Must Obey God's Commands
Deuteronomy 19:1-20:20

"Carefully obey all these laws I'm giving you today. Love the Lord your God, and always do what he wants you to do. Then the Lord your God will enlarge your land as he promised your ancestors, giving you the whole land he promised to them." (Deuteronomy 19:8-9)

Seems fairly simple, but somehow we sometimes have a hard time with this- following God's commands. Just do what He told us to do. Live right. It reminds me of the spiritual that I heard the talented Juniata Choir intone recently: "You Better Mind" (how you live, how you sing, you talk, etc). We better mind... we better pay attention to how we are living, to how we are following God's laws, driven by a deep inner desire, but our inner 'must.'

Must Work Hard
Proverbs 12:23-25

"Hard workers will become leaders, but those who are lazy will be slaves." (Proverbs 12:24)

We know that we are to do whatever we do for the Lord: do it well and fully and with our whole hearts. And when we are doing what the Lord has called us to- whether that is serving others, writing notes of encouragement, visiting those in the hospital, baking for the church youth group. Whatever we are doing, we want to do our best. We work hard, because it's a special gift to our Lord. And this kind of 'hard work' through service will soon be moved to leadership positions. And when called to continued diligent work, even in a somewhat different role, leadership is something that we must take on... not for our own selves, but in obedience to our Lord and the work He has called us to.

Must Preach God's Kingdom
Luke 4:31-44

"At daybreak, Jesus went to a lonely place, but the people looked for him. When they found him, they tried to keep him from leaving. But Jesus said to them, 'I must preach about God's kingdom to other towns, too. This is why I was sent.'" (Luke 4:42-43)

This is the passage that most stood out to me this morning, that I noticed in a way I hadn't before. Two distinct but not entirely separate parts called my attention. First, the fact that Jesus went to a lonely place. Jesus, an authority and leader and teacher, surrounded by many and preaching to them all the time, spending time with people. Jesus needed time to himself as well, and this didn't negate the fact that Jesus was still called to preach and teach and live with and amongst the people. Jesus was still clear on what He was called to do- to preach God's kingdom.

And secondly, the fact that Jesus recognizes that His mission is not in a fixed position. I think we often talk about finding our 'call' or discerning God's 'purpose' for our lives- when this passage suggests that we might have many 'calls' and 'purposes' set forth according to different moments in our lives. Yet all of it resides under on main mission- to preach God's word. Lord, may I listen carefully in order to find Your 'must' for my life at this moment... and in the future may I always remain in You, so that I may continue to follow Your will at different moments in my walk with You oh Lord.