Over break I had the privilege of traveling to the church of my childhood, Faith Covenant Church, to speak at the opening service of their "50 Years of Faith" Celebration. I always love going home and seeing the many people who prayed me past my mischief and rejoicing with them that the one who was once desperately prayed over now loves preaching the word of God over and over again.
After the service I had the opportunity to pray for people and have them pray for me. As usual for me I was nearly the last one to leave the building because I love mining the depths out of what God is doing and I never want to leave an ounce behind.
On my way down the main hallway I ran into a group of three young women who looked to be in high school or early college. I approached them because as I said, I don't want to miss out on any story God is telling and I spoke briefly with them. Mostly they thanked me for being a woman preacher and I joked around with them that the church could use a bit more lipstick in the pulpit.
As I walked out the front door toward my mother's car I felt a strong nudge that there had been too much joking and not enough calling. I asked my mother to wait for a moment so that I could run back into the church. "Did you forget something?" she asked. "Yes, something I'll feel awful about if I leave without it."
I tried the front door of the church but it was already locked. Now I had to make a public display by knocking on the window in order to get the attention of these young women who were seated halfway down the hallway. One of them jumped up and opened the door and asked exactly the same question as my mother, "Did you forget something?" "Yes," I replied. "I forgot to be serious about the calling God might have on one of your lives. I just wanted to tell you that if he called you to preach the word of God you would be one of the luckiest people alive. Don't hesitate to say 'yes' to him if he calls you. That's all I forgot to say." And I left again.
Scripture says that God's people need to "Be careful how you live not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Do not get drunk with wine, for that is a waste; but be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all time and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:12-21)
There are a lot of great prescriptions in this passage but there are only two imperatives, "Don't get drunk and be filled with the Spirit". As we enter into this next season of exploring Christ's community with one another, I pray that you would hear the call to be aware of what God is doing around you and not be consumed by anything that it would distract you from the Spirit that wants to fill your every moment.
Several weeks later I received an email from one of those young women who told me that she had been thinking about ministry but had been hesitant until that morning when halfway down that hallway on that Sunday after church God confirmed in her a call to ministry simply because I came back. To God be the glory that one time out of ten I actually follow the prompting. Think about what could happen if you and I were filled.
