A MESSAGE FROM THE TERRITORIAL LEADER FOR LEADER DEVELOPMENT
God-given appointments
I
SOMETIMES wonder what experiences I would have missed had I not said yes to God and answered his call upon my life to become a Salvation Army officer. I’m sure that I would have had a fulfilled life, that my vocation as a nurse, and my husband Anthony’s as a teacher, would have been fulfilling. I’m sure God would have blessed our service in our daily lives, and I have no doubt that we would have made a great difference to the lives of many people. But would I have lived with a sense of ‘dis-appointment’ deep within me because I’d missed the appointments that God had in mind for my life? In his message last week, Anthony encouraged us all to take hold of this pivotal moment – this opportunity and change point – to listen to God. And, with boldness, to think and pray about how we could become increasingly effective in our mission and ministry – as individuals, people of God and The Salvation Army – as we move on from the crisis of the coronavirus pandemic. We dare not miss the moment, the God-given appointments in our lives, that can bear fruit for the Kingdom at such a time. John 15 is a beautiful chapter in which Jesus teaches his disciples about the importance of staying connected with 4
Salvationist 22 May 2021
him. In verse 5 he says: ‘Apart from me, you can do nothing.’ But I want to draw your attention to the words of Jesus in verse 16: ‘You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last – and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.’ Jesus says, ‘I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit’ – whether that’s in your chosen career, in your daily workplace, in your school or your university – wherever you live, and certainly within your corps and in your community, in loving service and a life fully given to God. This could be the change point in your life. The moment when you hear God speaking and calling you out from your present context for the God-given appointment to spiritual leadership – perhaps as an officer, a territorial envoy or a pioneer leader. Can you hear the cry of God’s love for a needy world calling you? One of our songs says, ‘I’ll go in the strength of the Lord/ To work he appoints me to do’ (SASB 959). Would any of us want to miss such an appointment? In the opening chapter of The Life You’ve Always Wanted, John Ortberg writes about being ‘dis-appointed’ with himself for not being all that he wanted to be: ‘I am in a state of dis-appointment.
I am missing the life that I was appointed by God to live – missing my calling. And I have dis-appointed God. I have removed him from the central role he longs to play in my life and I have appointed myself in his place.’ He goes on to mention the familiar story of the calling of Moses: ‘One day when the human race had not heard a word of hope for a long time, a man named Moses walked past a shrub.’ Moses had, perhaps, seen that shrub many times, but at this moment he stopped because the shrub was on fire with the presence of God. He was willing to turn aside and give his full attention to God. He could have looked the other way but he didn’t. He stopped, he turned aside and he listened – and God spoke to Moses about the misery of his people. Moses gave every excuse under the sun for why he shouldn’t be the one to lead them, but eventually said yes, and we know that God promised to be with him every step of the way. The theme for this year’s Candidates Sunday was Be Willing. I hope that every one of us will continue to listen to God and hear his will for us, and to pray that he will raise up men and women, young and old, boys and girls, locally, territorially and internationally, who will hear God’s voice, be willing to turn aside, listen and respond to the call of God upon their lives. And if, prompted by the Spirit, you feel that this message might be helpful to someone you know, I encourage you to pass it on to them. We have been through a great ordeal during this past year. Thank you all for your faithful work and service. Now is the time to be willing to turn aside, listen and be challenged. Now is the time to be bold and grasp the moment. Don’t miss the life that God has appointed you to live. And remember, the Lord your God will be with you. GILL COTTERILL COMMISSIONER TERRITORIAL LEADER FOR LEADER DEVELOPMENT O This
message is based on a video that can be viewed at facebook.com/ SalvationistOnline or youtube.com/ salvationarmyvideo
