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Daily Devotions
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Devotions for Friday, March 12
A letter to a parent
Dear Mrs. Johnson,
I first want to tell you what a joy it has been having your son in my youth program. He has grown over the years to be a leader amongst his peers and even within the congregation. I am so proud of the man he is becoming as I’m sure you are as well.
I understand that recently you have had some frustration with some of the choices Jeff has made. As his senior year comes to a close he has made some big decisions. I fully understand the desire you have for your son to attend college right out of high school. I am completely aware of the risk that is involved when someone doesn’t immediately continue with their formal education.
If I am entirely honest, I am thrilled with Jeff’s choice to spend a year living and serving with AIDS victims in Africa. I really believe that Jeff has a calling from God and that we are not called to stay in the safety and comfort of our known surroundings. My observations and interactions with Jeff tell me that God is burning inside of him. He is more passionate about God than anything else and therefore his life looks different than the one you had perhaps planned out.
When you brought Jeff to youth group and church I hope you weren’t expecting him to turn into a ‘nice’ kid with a ‘safe’ faith. My calling as a church worker is to introduce people to the life-ruining, plan-breaking Jesus Christ. As I watch Jeff grow in his relationship with Christ it is only natural that Jeff’s plans become secondary to God’s plans. I understand that this choice scares you immensely – as it should. Please trust that when God calls you to something that is scary, he is simply inviting you to have him share the load with you.
You have made it blatantly clear that Jeff’s future could be compromised. I agree completely. I agree that Jesus came to this world and into Jeff’s heart so that His glory would reign. Jesus didn’t come to this world so that we could be safe. He came to this world to transform us.
Perhaps I should have been more transparent a few years ago when Jeff first started interacting with the church crowd and found himself reading scripture. I’m sorry if I ever misled you. My goals are as such:
I hope that the ones I get to share in ministry with fall in love with Jesus
I hope that the ones I get to share in ministry with radically transform their lives to look more like Christ
I hope that the ones I get to share in ministry with take risks…BIG risks…for God
I hope that the ones I get to share in ministry with put God first with all they do
I hope that the ones I get to share in ministry with do not conform to the patterns of this world
When Jeff told me that he was considering taking a year off…leaving behind all his possessions and plans…to try and live like Christ – I fell to God in prayer and praise. I understand that your reaction, from what Jeff tells me, was a different type of response. While we both have different responses I also understand that we both have the best interest of Jeff in mind.
I’m convinced that Jeff’s life will be more enriched as it becomes more about Jesus and less about Jeff. Some of my favorite words were recently read to me by a mentor and I’d like to share them with you:
Go now with God
Be not tempted to stay in the safety of known places
Move from where you are to where God points
Go now with God
Be not tempted to go only in your time
When it suits, when it is sure
For now is God's time
Go now with God
Choose not to go alone
Go in the faith that there is not a wilderness so vast
That God is not already there to show you the way
I know you are angry with Jeff’s decision and with my encouragement of it. I’m sorry if I have upset you. It has been a complete joy and honor to watch Jeff fall in love with Jesus.
God’s fire is a dangerous thing. It burns away all the plans we make for ourselves and leads people to some scary places. I trust that God needs good people to do some tough work in this world. It isn’t glamorous or safe – but it’s worth it.
God’s blessings,
Erik Hatch
(Is God calling you away from your plans and towards His plans? Have you stopped to ask Him lately?)
ehatch@flcfargo.org
into a relationship with Jesus Christ, and to help them grow in the Christian Faith.