What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up?

The story began a while back. Our family was on our way to visit with some friends at their home. My daughter Sarah, who was four at the time, was sitting behind my seat. She and I were having a conversation about what she wanted to be when she grew up. The conversation ended when we arrived at our friends' home...or so I thought. The next day, while eating lunch, out of the blue Sarah asked: "Daddy, what do you want to be when you grow up?" Of course, we all laughed. I tried to explain to Sarah that daddy was already grown up. Of course, that discussion was just about as profitable as my discussion with her about the concept of time (see post, "Is It Still Today?").

At the age of 15 I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. Although I did not have all the answers and did not fully understand all it would entail, I knew that God was calling me to serve Him in ministry. In fact, I recall telling my dad at that time that I felt God wanted me to be a youth pastor. This was probably due in part to the impact that one youth pastor, Jerry Barber, had on my life. It's hard to believe that 26 years have passed, but as I look back I can recall with thanksgiving the many ways God has allowed and enabled me to serve Him these many years.
 
Thinking about this question posed by Sarah makes me think of a message Paul had for Archippus. It is recorded in Paul's letter to the believers in Colossae. Paul instructs the believers to tell Archippus, "Pay attention to the ministry you have received in the Lord, so that you can accomplish it" (Col. 4:17, HCSB). Apparently Archippus was not fulfilling, or completing, his God-given ministry so Paul challenged him to stay focused and accomplish the ministry to which God called him. Every believer in Christ Jesus has a ministry to fulfill right where God has placed them. No, it may not be serving as a pastor, or as a missionary, or for that matter, serving in any full-time ministry; but if you are a Christian, God has gifted you and given you a ministry. He has also enabled and empowered you to carry out the ministry to which He has called you. The question is, do you know what ministry God has called you to, and if so, are you paying attention and faithfully completing your ministry? If you're not sure what ministry God has called you to, then pray and speak with your pastor. If you have not yet done so, you may also want to take a spiritual gifts assessment to learn what spiritual gift God has given to you. The important thing is to learn how God has gifted you and then discover your God-given ministry and serve Him faithfully. I can tell you, there's nothing more rewarding in life than faithfully fulfilling the ministry to which God has called you and empowered you!

“Is It Still Today?”

All of us who have parented a child have special memories of our child asking some rather humorous questions. For example, my daughters, Sarah (4) and Emily (5) often ask, “Is it still today?” Or, when they are getting in their beds to go to sleep they ask, “When we wake up will it be morning?” Or, when looking out the window in the evening when the sky is dark, they ask, “Is it night time?” Our entire family finds these moments very humorous. Emily and Sarah have no concept of time. This is evidenced just about every day. In fact, recently I told Sarah it was time for bed and she said, “But Daddy, we haven’t been able to play today” as if the entire day had disappeared without a trace and somehow they had not got to play. Every day for Sarah and Emily is filled with play and fun. They play hard. One moment they are playing dolls, the next they’re playing school, and the next they’re playing Polly Pockets. Their lives are not controlled by a clock. In fact, a clock means nothing to them. Often you and I look at the clock to determine when it is time to eat, but not Sarah and Emily. Their bellies tell them when they’re hungry! As I said, they have no concept of time. But as Emily Sarah grow up, just like their big sissies, Haley (12) and Lauren (10), they will learn about time. I’m glad that day will come but I will be a little sad when it does because it will mean they're growing up. Gone will be the days of those humorous questions that I looked forward to hearing and yes, even answering!

As we grow up we take on more responsibility. We learn more and the more we learn the more that is expected of us. In Moses’ prayer he asked God to teach him how to do something. Notice what he prays…“Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts” (Psalm 90:12).

You see, as we grow up we begin to realize that life is not all about play. We know we have a schedule to keep. And yes, we know when it is night and that when we wake up it will be morning. We also know that our lives on this earth are only temporary. Knowing all this, it would behoove each one of us to ask God exactly what Moses asked Him. His prayer should become our prayer, “God, teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts!” As we do this, we will discover there is time for us to accomplish everything that God has planned for us—and yes, there will even be time for play and certainly many opportunities to shine the light and love of Jesus!