Doing what God calls you to.

I got this quote at a work conference the other week.  And being a missionary myself found it very fitting and challenging.  But I don't think it just applies to missionaries.  It can apply to anyone.

"If God calls you to be a missionary, don't stoop to be a king." -- Jordan Grooms

Whatever God has called you to is the best possible thing you can be doing.  Just because at some other job you could be making a lot more money or have a more comfortable life does not mean you are in the wrong job.  In fact, if God has not called you to that other job, you will be more happy and experience more of His glory/mercy/love if you stay where He has called you.

So for me, God has called me to be a missionary.  For me to do anything else, even if it were being a king, would be a step down, not up.

So remember, if you are doing what God has called you to then you are doing the best possible job available.

Why has God pardoned me?

For Your name's sake, O LORD, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great. - Psalm 25:11

Did you catch that?  Did you see for who's sake David asked for his sins to be pardoned?  It was not for David's sake that he asked.  It was not so that he would live, or go to heaven, or benefit in any way.  He asked for the sake of the name of our Lord.  David saw that it is God's name that benefits when He pardons us.  It brings glory to, and magnifies, His name.  


We live in a very self-centered, individualistic culture and I would bet that many of us have never even considered this before.  To me this is another reminder of how much God has done for me and that my life is His.


How do you view God's pardon of your sin?  Do you see it as for your own sake so that you can have eternal life?  Or do you see it as for God's sake, bringing glory to His name?  Does (or would) viewing it as the latter change the way you live? As you consider this, look at verses 8 through 11.

⁸ Good and upright is the LORD; Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.⁹ He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way.¹⁰ All the paths of the LORD are lovingkindness and truth To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.¹¹ For Your name’s sake, O LORD, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.⁹ He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way.¹⁰ All the paths of the LORD are lovingkindness and truth To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.¹¹ For Your name’s sake, O LORD, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great. - Psalm 25:8-11