Dear Faith Family, 

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, (1 Peter 2:9). 

Nothing like the good life – you know, life in a perpetual petting zoo.  Outside in the wide open.  Surrounded by God’s creation.  After a hard beginning, after a life of luxury gone bad, after a misunderstood attempt at help collided with thankless sarcasm, nothing like the good life.  You might say that was an inappropriate time for a career change.  And certainly, an inappropriate time to return to a previous life.  Right?  Been there, done that, didn’t work out.  Moved on.   

Who are we talking about?   You remember him.  Born and raised early as a sailor?  Grew up in the lap of luxury.  Murdered a guy.  Ran off and forged another life with a new identity.  Moses, of course.  And now?  Now the burning bush?  Now the call of God to return?  Now Moses? 

And that brings me to us.  That brings me to the “inappropriate” times when God calls us to serve Him.  Sometimes He calls when we’re most comfortable.  We’ve learned what we’re not so good at and we’ve settled into our sweet spot.  We’re comfortable.  And our God has an uncanny ability to call at just the right inappropriate moment. 

Nothing like the good life – you know, life in the rat race.  Education – check.  Job secured – check.  Climbing the success ladder two and three rungs at a time – check.  People not only know the name, they’re calling the name – check.  Resume by far surpasses the nearest competition – check.  Nothing like the good life.  You might say it was an inconvenient time for a career change.  And certainly, an inconvenient time for a 180.  Right? 

Who are we talking about?  You remember him.  I’m sure you’ll recognize his name.  Quite the record holder in his school.  And success?  Certainly, his name is in the who’s who of who’s who.  Saul, of course.  And now?  Now the blinding light?  Now the call of God to do the exact opposite of what he had been doing?  Now Paul? 

And that brings me to us.  That brings me to the “inconvenient” times when God calls us to serve Him.  Sometimes He calls when we’re most preoccupied.  We’ve learned what we’re good at and we’re running wide open in our sweet spot.  We’re busy.  And our God has an uncanny ability to call at just the right inconvenient moment. 

How incredibly amazing that our God would extend such a call at the precise inappropriate, inconvenient moments in our lives.  The call wasn’t to expose the abilities of Moses and Paul – or us.  The call is to demonstrate the character of our loving God. 

Go ahead, answer His call, 

Pastor Karl