This week, we discussed chapter 8 of The Way of Life, titled "Erasing the Lines". Bill Johnson talks about 3 lines that have to be erased: (1) the line between sacred and secular, (2) the line between natural and supernatural, and (3) the line between us and them.
Our discussion focused on the second line. While we have two realms, God only has one realm. "The supernatural is his natural, and He made the natural, so it is also his natural realm... when He's at work, they flow together seamlessly" (pg. 86-87). We are to work unto the Lord in the natural world, and trust God for his supernatural supply through blessing and multiplication. The natural and supernatural are not in opposition, but in partnership. Psalms 104:14-15 says “He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate—bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts.”
God gave grapes, olives and wheat to people to cultivate and turn into wine, oil and bread. We co-labour with him by stewarding and nurturing what he has given us, and we have the liberty to transform it into something new and wonderful, for the joy of those around us.
The group shared encouraging testimonies of partnerships between the natural and supernatural at our workplaces. For example, B shared that he goes above and beyond his scope of work to help his patients in the natural realm, and in his four years of working with high risk individuals, there has miraculously been no extreme acts by patients under his watch (that are common elsewhere in the hospital). This is an extension of supernatural blessing from our Father in heaven! Another example shared by GS and S was how God's perfect timing and sovereign plan was already at work even as they carried out the natural acts of applying and interviewing for jobs. Both of them testified to supernatural outcomes that only God could have orchestrated.
We concluded by writing our personal calling statements. We tend to have a lofty idea of our calling, that it needs to be super spiritual or received through direct revelation from God. However, our calling can be straightforward, simply our occupation in the natural world that God has appointed for us to do. It is the One who calls us that makes any endeavor holy. We followed this template to write our calling statement, you should give it a shot too!
God calls me to <do a specific task>
To help <a group of people>
To be <transformed in a specific way through Christ>
So that they <impact the world a certain way>
For example, "God calls me to plan sound public policy to help the operations staff implement early intervention programmes well, so children with developmental needs can have a good start in life, so that society at large can be more equal and inclusive."
As we labour daily, we can remember our calling statement and pray for the Lord to partner our natural works with his supernatural power!
May the words of this song be our prayer for each day:
"Before You we kneel, our Master and Maker;
Establish the work of our hands,
And order our steps to seek first Your kingdom
In every small and great task.
May we live the gospel of Your grace,
Serve Your purpose in our fleeting days,
Then our lives will bring eternal praise
And all glory to Your great name."
Blessings,
RT1
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