Editors note: This devotional is taken from the archives of Gospel of Mark, chapter 5.

Quiet Times (Psalm 29, Proverbs 29, and Mark  6:2-3)

^"When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed." "Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.” (Mark 6:2-3, NIV)

Observations:

I asked myself what questions those that heard Jesus asked.

1. Isn’t this the carpenter?

2. Isn’t this Mary’s son?

3. Isn’t this the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon?

4. Aren’t his sisters here with us?

I asked myself what their reaction was after the questions.
And they took offense at him.

I decided to focus on point 1 today.

Interpretations:

I asked myself what is the significance of their question, “Isn’t this the carpenter?”

As a carpenter, they would have expected Jesus to make crosses, tables, chairs or anything made of wood. They did not expect Jesus to teach in the Synagogue, amazing the crowds with His wisdom and miracles. And yet that’s what Jesus did! Many of them must have known Jesus to be in the carpentry business to think ‘isn’t this the carpenter?’. Now Jesus was amazing them with His Words and miracles, so they wondered how that could be. What they do not realize is Jesus had a calling and it was in God’s timing. Jesus went from being a carpenter to the cross for us.

Implications:

I saw important implications for my own life here. Jesus was in the business of carpentry but He also had a higher calling while He was on earth. Whatever my job is if the Lord wants to use me, he can. My job may have nothing to do with ministry but the Lord can open doors to ministry if that is His calling for me. He will give me the words and power to do ministry for Him and His Kingdom. This means even though my credentials might be in academia, He can still use me in other areas.

I am reminded of my own life when I felt called into the ministry after getting my degree in Psychology. Originally my mission had been to counsel broken hearts with the love of Christ. Later, I felt my mission was the University of Pittsburgh campus where I saw myself as a missionary from India and the campus being a country. The dormitories were small cities for me that I wanted to reach with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The class rooms became small towns. My student ID became my VISA to get entrance into the country of Pitt. I realized to reach the population of Pitt, I needed to adapt to Pitt culture. So, I would go to games and become an avid fan in hopes of making people see that a follower of Christ can have fun too. I would take classes as a means to reach students with the Gospel. More than anything, I decided tent-making where I would work within the University to make a living and have opportunities to present the Gospel.

People would wonder and still wonder what I am doing at Pitt when I have different degrees with multiple minors and can do as high as U.S. Secret Service. Yet, I have felt so strong about ministry. The answer for me is God’s calling. 

I have been honored to do campus ministry with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship for couple of years at Pitt and meet students from other chapters too. Now I work full-time within Pitt but it is a blessing because of the opportunities to still do ministry. I love my job as a means to do ministry when opportunities arise.

I share this with you because people can think something about you but when you sense God’s calling and act out in faith, it could baffle them and confuse them but just as Jesus continued to teach in the synagogue and do miracles because it was God’s calling for Him, I want to continue doing  ministry aside from my other callings.  As I go out in faith, if I make a wrong choice, I know the Lord will make it right before it is too late.

Even though I had not been ordained as a pastor because I do not have a seminary degree, I felt I should do ministry online and did it for almost 40 hrs a week aside from my job few years ago.  People online asked me if I was a pastor. That was very touching but more than anything it confirmed to me that I did not need a seminary degree to preach the Gospel and be used by the Lord as I allow His Holy Spirit to work in me and through me. They also sent me money so I could continue to do the ministry and cut down my job hours. I knew the Lord was using me to save souls on the internet, disciple people, and make an impact on campus too. It is because of His will and choosing as I make myself available to Him.

Just as many thought what Jesus was doing did not match His profession, it is possible people could think the same way about you. But the bottom line is whatever we are called to do, the Lord will provide the means and the way. He is the One that helps to present the Gospel to others and share what I have been learning in my devotional times with others. I do not worry that I do not have a seminary degree because I know the Holy Spirit can speak through me as His vessel when He chooses and most of all through His Word. He can use you too but you have to follow God's calling. I do not have a seminary degree not because I do not want it. If the Lord calls me into seminary, I need to go but that is not my calling right now.

I ask you now dear friend, what is your calling?
Dear friend, each of us may be in a position right now that is not our calling. So, people only identify us based on our occupation title: isn’t this the carpenter, isn’t this the engineer, isn’t this the doctor, etc but we can still be  engaged in ministry. We can remain in our profession and still do ministry for the Lord if that is how He has called us. At other times, we will be asked to leave the profession we are in and take up the new calling.

The Lord who calls you to anything will always provide the means and support to get you through. He will never call you to something without properly equipping, enabling, and empowering you. So whatever your calling is, trust in the Lord and in the power of His might. It is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord. It is possible to have multiple callings and the Lord will bless them if it be His will for you.

You can be called to be a doctor and do missionary work as a doctor; you can be called to be a lawyer and work for a Christian law firm such as American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ); you can be called to be an Engineer and also a Sunday school teacher; you could be called to be a pastor and also be called to be married, etc.

The important thing is seeking the Lord to know your calling. If it is a career, academics, relationships, etc seek the Lord and His will, then He will make it known to you and give you the peace. If the Lord speaks to you through His peace being instilled in you, you know He will instill that peace for you, for the decisions you have to make. I have also seen the Lord use other people to give others peace about a decision to know if that is God’s calling. The Lord can also directly speak to you through His Word about His calling for you and give you the peace regarding that calling. Whatever the way the Lord chooses to speak to you, act in faith and leave the results in the Lord’s Hands.

If the Lord has called you to something and you are sure about it, He will make sure it happens. If it does not happen then many times we misread the calling and need to seek the Lord to make it clear to us. He will make it clear in the ways He speaks to us! Most of all we have His Word to direct us and lead us, as we depend on Him through prayer and also the help He wants to give us through His Church. It is important to remember that every calling of God also has His perfect timing whether it be a career change, academics, or relationships. His will could be, that something is His calling for your life but He has to match it with His perfect timing.

May you know your calling and be assured of it, for Jesus will not take you on any path of calling without equipping, enabling, and empowering you! Amen! Turn to the Lord in prayer and expect His loving answer for Christ's answers lovingly lead imparting nurturing grace! Amen!

“Christ’s Answers Lovingly Lead Imparting Nurturing Grace!” (C.A.L.L.I.N.G)/”What is your calling?”

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for letting me learn about calling. You Oh Lord were a carpenter and yet you had a higher calling that amazed the crowds and made them think how it could be. Lord, you know the jobs we have and what we are called to. Sometimes, we go our own way and miss the calling you have for our lives. Sometimes we even let love or our own insecurities blind us from the calling you have for us. Forgive us when we do that and take us on the right path please. Jesus, your children are seeking you for different reasons and want to know your will. Some need to know the job you want them to have, others need to know the one you want them to seek as their partner in marriage. Even those who date need to know if  the one they are dating is the right one, if they should be engaged, and then married. You alone Oh Lord have the answers to our calling. You Oh Lord have a calling for our lives and we need and want to know your will. We desire for your will and your way in our lives so no matter what the outcome is we can have the peace that it is the wisdom that came from you. Please help us Lord. And Lord, there are times we need to  believe and go out in faith when we feel called to something, so help us to do that as we depend on you. If we have made the wrong choice, we thank you that you will point it out before it is too late. We know you will because you go with us, are mighty to save, delight in us, and quiet us with your love. We need that so much in our lives as we seek you for the calling of our lives in all areas. Thank you so much Jesus. Jesus, if what we believed to be your calling does not seem to happen, please let our pain be covered by your peace if I may ask Lord. Thank you so much Jesus. Thank you that you hear  us and have answered us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Pray this prayer if you want to come to Jesus Christ and let Him work in your life. This is a similar to the prayer the person at church prayed.

Dear Jesus, I do not know everything about you. I still have a lot of questions but I heard how you heal people. I need your spiritual healing and need  you to transplant yourself into my life. I am so sorry for my sin. My sin has separated me from you. There is nothing I can do on my own to earn your forgiveness but you give it to me in your grace. Thank you so much Jesus. I now come and say, I am so sorry for my all sin. I confess to you my sin and repent of my sin. Help me please Jesus and transform my life in your timing. Please forgive me of my sin and cleanse me with your cleansing blood. Wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Thank you so much Jesus. Please come into my heart Jesus and make my heart your home. Live in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. Thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home! Thank you Jesus for living in me and helping me to live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life! Thank you for your forgiveness and grace. I gotta tell somebody what you did for me Jesus. Before I even do that, I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you Jesus for being my Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you Jesus you have heard my prayer and answered me! Thank you Jesus that I am yours! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Friend you may feel something or may not feeling anything but do not go by your feelings. When you ask Jesus to come into your life, He will and does. He will take over from here as you depend on the Lord and let Him work in you and through you! This is exciting friend! May each one that came to know Jesus be filled with His Holy Spirit forever more and those that know Jesus come to know Him more and more! Amen!

Get yourself involved in a campus Bible study, fellowship, and most of all find a Bible believing church and be involved to grow in your Christian walk with the Lord. They all need to be supplements for your own precious time with the Lord in prayer and meditating on His Word. If you need a Bible, please let me know!

As the movie DaVinci Code opened across the theaters on May 19, 2006, which speaks against the church and most importantly degrades the Name of Jesus Christ, we need to make ourselves available to speak the truth to the falsity presented in the movie and the novel. If you plan to watch the movie or have read the book and have questions or your faith seems to be shaken, please email me or give me a call at 412-720-4579 so we can discuss the false claims in the book that are presented as fact even though the book itself and the movie is presented as fiction. May the Lord bless you and guide you!

If you need anyone to talk to, pray with, or study the Bible with this Spring or Summer of 2006, you can email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com or call me at 412-720-4579. Please do not hesitate. One-one Bible studies can be so powerful to because the Holy Spirit is still in the midst.

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

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