1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

I had been struggling for months as to what was being asked of me. I knew but I did not want to face it. Then a Scottish evangelist came and spoke in church one Sunday and I heard the Word of the Lord in his sermon.

“You can stay here and be miserable or you can obey me and leave.”

It was my first call to move on. I met with the pastor and explained myself and what I had heard of the Lord. It was not until years later that I found out that the pastor did not share this information with anyone. He didn’t set up a farewell, he didn’t gather the saints around me to pray over my protection for the next calling in my life. He just let me go, as if I didn’t matter.

Recently I’ve looked around and missed the presence of friends. They are younger than me and I am not in a pastoral position and I have no idea what happened. I called and found out what happened. They too were called to move and were not clear as to what would happen next, only that they feel that they are obeying God.

Then there are the “others” those who feel like they want to move on. They have heavy baggage and no matter our efforts to be loving and gracious, they will not unburden themselves from their baggage. These will sooner or later become burdensome elsewhere, blaming others and claiming not to be loved because we will not help them carry their burdens.

Matthew 23:4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

While Jesus was speaking of the scribes and Pharisees the attitudes and behaviors can be found in many who look to us to do for them that which they will not do for themselves. It is their baggage and the source of help is first and foremost the Lord.  How can any of us expect help from another if we refuse to take it first to the Lord?

Psalm 23:1-2 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He, the Lord, does that.

Luke 21:34 But take heed to yourselves and be on your guard, lest your hearts be overburdened and depressed (weighed down) with the giddiness and headache and nausea of self-indulgence, drunkenness, and worldly worries and cares pertaining to [the business of] this life, and [lest] that day come upon you suddenly like a trap or a noose; (AMP)

I use the Amplified version of the bible here because I do not believe that enough can be said about all the things of this world that we allow to distract us away from our mission. Many of the versions of this one passage carry big bold print which all contain the word WARNING. So once again take heed.

Luke 21:25-26 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

The complexities of these days are nothing more than a distraction from our calling. We are the Lord’s ministers of reconciliation. Yes there is great danger in the world, yes there is great injustice in the world, and yes man’s hearts are failing under the pressures of the enemy,

More than that, there are still millions of lost souls waiting to hear of a way to escape, to be set free, to come to a saving grace knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Let us not forget our calling.