Anything

It seems my post on Jennie Allen's book, Anything, caused a little panic.  We are not moving to Africa any time soon.  In fact, that isn't what I was trying to say.  I was attempting to communicate that we are willing to do anything the Lord asks.  Adoption, shelter ministry, suburban ministry, living in CT, moving to South America...whatever! 

In the post, I quoted Jennie as she asked her readers to ask themselves if they would go to Africa if God asked and then to use our responses to that as a gauge of where we're at in our walk with the Lord.  Do we trust?  Of what are we afraid?  How much do we love convenience?  Where is God in our future plans?  Etc.  The point isn't to say that everyone should go to Africa.  If that were true, who would reach South America or Inner Mongolia or New England, for that matter?  The point is that it should be GOD who determines our every step. 

In finishing her book, Jennie quotes C.S. Lewis where he says that if Christianity is real, then it means everything.  If it isn't, it means nothing.  There is no in between.  There is no medium ground.  Either we're all in or we're not.

Lately, I've been looking at the Parable of the Wedding Banquet.  Jesus says, "the kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.  He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come."  They were too busy.  The King tried again asking his friends to come, but "they paid no attention and went off" to their own jobs, lives, relationships.  Some even mistreated the servants and killed them.  The king was outraged, but a wedding was about to happen and he wanted guests to enjoy the celebration he had prepared.  Where did he go?  To the streets.  To those who were hurting.  To those with messed up lives.  To those who were scraping to get by in life.   

The very people who were supposed to know Him, to care about Him, couldn't be bothered to come when He called.  Perhaps that's why Jesus says "blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

He's calling His church now like He has in ages past.  There is a very definite surge of believers who are hearing His voice and realize there is no in between...if God is real, then everything in our lives must revolve around that very truth.

I don't want to be so busy living my life like those in the parable that I miss His voice. 

Are we going to Africa?  Maybe someday.  We have no idea what God has in mind for the future.  We don't even know what tomorrow will bring.  BUT, if God calls...we want to hear His voice and say

Anything, Lord.  Anything.