Mistakes, part 3

3. The wrong path is the wrong path even if we try to make it pleasing to God.

Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:11, “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers.” Each of us is uniquely made. Every one of us is granted a spiritual gift that we are made to use for Christ. Many of us, however, have different reasons to avoid using these spiritual gifts.

Jonah was given the gift to reach the people of Nineveh, but he didn’t feel they deserved salvation. Moses was able to free the Jewish people, but was afraid to even open his mouth to speak. I was filled with excuses, and consumed by fear of rejection. Many people feel a calling, but don’t want to do what they’re called to do.

Many of us desire to serve the Lord. Sometimes we just don’t want to serve Him in the way we know we’re meant to. We instead seek out an alternate path. We look for a different way to serve the Lord that we hope will satisfy Him. In our hearts we beg Him to change His mind, and to think it's okay for us to serve Him in a way that’s against His purpose. We hope he’ll change His will for us.

This won’t happen. The wrong path is always the wrong path no matter how we try to cover it up. You cannot hide from God within His arms. You cannot justify hiding from His will. No amount of human reasoning will make running from what you’re meant to do pleasing to the Lord. If He made you for ministry He will not think its fine for you to become a missionary instead. If he made you to teach you are to teach. If he made you to be an accountant be an account. Do whatever it is you were made to do, and commit it all to the service of God. If He blessed you with many gifts be sure to use them all for the Lord. Do not fear the responsibility that comes with the ability to teach, preach, write, or anything else. Embrace it, and remember that God has plans for you that are good. Do not ignore your calling. Do not forge your own path so you feel okay with running from God. Ignoring you calling is always a mistake.