Week 10 - Calling
I take a few moments to place myself before our God who is looking at us with love.
I share with Him the desires which have brought me to this chapel this evening.
Theme
Who is it who inspires me? Who fascinates me, provides me with an orientation for my life? Jesus is called the Lord and the Christ, the Messiah, the true king; He also calls me to bring about his kingdom on Earth.
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Music: Take o take me as I am Elise Mannah
Take o take me as I am
Summon out what I shall be
Set your seal upon my heart
And live in me
Neem mij aan zoals ik ben
Wek in mij wie ik zal zijn
Druk uw zegel op mijn hart
En leef in mij
Spotify link:
https://open.spotify.com/track/2pYf6g23zKZpCkBNaIYPgq?si=ea380227ef65400d
YouTube link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdwX3Gg-D-c
Text:
John 1, 19-28 The Testimony of John the Baptist
19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, he did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Eli′jah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 They said to him then, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
And I? What do I say about myself? Who am I really and who am I not?
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23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
Christ, Eli’jah and the prophets all have their own roles to play in bringing God to the people. John is most certainly not the Christ, not Eli’jah and not one of the prophets. He has most definitely his own role to play in the relationship between God and His people. He makes the way straight for Jesus. And I? What is my role in the relationship between God and the people?
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24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Eli′jah, nor the prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water; but among you stands one whom you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 This took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
John the Baptist does not want any attention to be given to himself, but to Christ who “stands among you”. We are asked to keep our attention focused on Christ who stands among us. I look back over the last days, weeks, months. When have I been aware of Christ among us and have paid attention to Him?
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Music