WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.600 --> 00:00:01.400 Would you pray with me? 2 00:00:03.500 --> 00:00:07.100 Father, God may the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts 3 00:00:07.100 --> 00:00:09.000 be pleasing and acceptable in your sight. 4 00:00:09.000 --> 00:00:11.900 Our strengthen Our Redeemer. Amen. 5 00:00:13.600 --> 00:00:18.500 I'd like to take you back to college, where I had a moment where I had 6 00:00:18.500 --> 00:00:20.300 a moment that was pretty changing for me. 7 00:00:21.500 --> 00:00:23.100 It's pretty, it's pretty common 8 00:00:23.100 --> 00:00:29.000 I hear you may call it a sort of coming to my senses and I don't have 9 00:00:29.000 --> 00:00:29.600 a date for you. 10 00:00:29.600 --> 00:00:34.200 I woke up one day, one day with an epiphany with the Revelation that 11 00:00:34.200 --> 00:00:35.700 my parents were cool. 12 00:00:36.600 --> 00:00:38.300 I know, I know. 13 00:00:40.400 --> 00:00:45.800 I like them and I enjoyed them and I think I began to appreciate them. 14 00:00:47.800 --> 00:00:49.000 And what did it for me 15 00:00:49.000 --> 00:00:53.700 was that they made the full flip in my world going from the 16 00:00:53.700 --> 00:00:56.100 people who are holding me back in life to 17 00:00:56.100 --> 00:00:59.600 the people whose love I couldn't live without. 18 00:01:01.000 --> 00:01:02.800 You see I realized and important truth. 19 00:01:03.900 --> 00:01:04.599 A truth, 20 00:01:04.599 --> 00:01:09.600 a reassurance that reminded me that Christian their love has nothing 21 00:01:09.600 --> 00:01:10.300 to do with you. 22 00:01:11.500 --> 00:01:13.100 And it has everything to do with you. 23 00:01:16.600 --> 00:01:22.100 You see something astonishing something, amazing happens when illusions, 24 00:01:22.100 --> 00:01:23.200 leave 25 00:01:23.200 --> 00:01:25.600 and when reality breaks in. 26 00:01:27.100 --> 00:01:31.400 I may not be the basketball player imagined and I may not graduate 27 00:01:31.400 --> 00:01:35.800 with the impressive accounting degree that I started with. 28 00:01:36.700 --> 00:01:42.200 And I just might just might not be so good at making decisions that 29 00:01:42.200 --> 00:01:42.900 are best for me. 30 00:01:44.300 --> 00:01:50.500 And what John's getting out today is that love must be located in reality 31 00:01:51.500 --> 00:01:53.500 and others who know what's best for you. 32 00:01:54.600 --> 00:01:56.500 Who want what's best for you. 33 00:01:57.700 --> 00:02:00.400 Who would even lay down their lives for you. 34 00:02:02.100 --> 00:02:03.700 I want to get straight to the point this morning 35 00:02:03.700 --> 00:02:08.600 so bear with me. One of the main themes in God's story. 36 00:02:08.600 --> 00:02:12.200 In the story of the scriptures is that you and I can't handle the 37 00:02:12.200 --> 00:02:12.300 truth. 38 00:02:13.500 --> 00:02:17.500 And for me, I wanted to be loved for my accomplishments. 39 00:02:18.400 --> 00:02:23.900 I wanted people to love the high achieving, the high working, the 40 00:02:23.900 --> 00:02:26.000 hard-working gifted 41 00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:29.100 and aspirational person, I wanted to be. 42 00:02:30.300 --> 00:02:31.800 That's when I knew, I'd make it. 43 00:02:33.000 --> 00:02:34.000 That's when I know 44 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:37.400 I was the person I wanted to be. 45 00:02:39.700 --> 00:02:40.700 Though when that reality 46 00:02:40.700 --> 00:02:42.200 doesn't work 47 00:02:43.800 --> 00:02:44.500 what do you do? 48 00:02:46.200 --> 00:02:47.200 How do you move on? 49 00:02:47.200 --> 00:02:48.800 And how do you recover? 50 00:02:50.000 --> 00:02:51.900 Will I go on desiring 51 00:02:51.900 --> 00:02:52.400 praise? 52 00:02:53.900 --> 00:02:59.100 The secret desire of our hearts that wants to be loved for what we do. 53 00:03:01.300 --> 00:03:01.700 It's 54 00:03:01.700 --> 00:03:03.900 here that were faced with two options. 55 00:03:05.200 --> 00:03:08.100 You can either receive your own self condemnation. 56 00:03:09.600 --> 00:03:14.500 Your own self condemnation that says you didn't achieve enough, you 57 00:03:14.500 --> 00:03:15.600 aren't enough. 58 00:03:17.000 --> 00:03:18.500 Or you can receive another love. 59 00:03:20.700 --> 00:03:21.800 And to choose the latter 60 00:03:22.800 --> 00:03:26.100 is the hear the voice of the one who tells you the truth 61 00:03:27.500 --> 00:03:30.400 that you must change and become like little children. 62 00:03:32.300 --> 00:03:33.400 Because children 63 00:03:34.900 --> 00:03:36.300 well they know where love is. 64 00:03:37.600 --> 00:03:42.300 Children rely on love, that is located in the deeds of others. 65 00:03:43.400 --> 00:03:45.800 They simply believe and receive. 66 00:03:49.300 --> 00:03:51.900 And that's what made all the difference for me. 67 00:03:53.400 --> 00:03:56.300 I heard my parents loud and clear. 68 00:03:56.300 --> 00:03:59.100 It was their claim that took hold in my life 69 00:03:59.100 --> 00:04:03.700 that Christian our love has nothing to do with you and it has 70 00:04:03.700 --> 00:04:05.700 everything to do with you. 71 00:04:06.900 --> 00:04:10.500 Our love has nothing to do with your accomplishments, with your gifts, 72 00:04:10.500 --> 00:04:15.900 or your aspirations, but it has everything to do with you with our 73 00:04:15.900 --> 00:04:17.800 love for you. 74 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:20.700 Speaking of 75 00:04:20.700 --> 00:04:22.600 my parents, they're going to be here tomorrow. 76 00:04:23.800 --> 00:04:26.300 Because what a great day that Wednesday will be. 77 00:04:27.700 --> 00:04:31.200 Now, I know not all of you will be receiving calls, but I trust, 78 00:04:31.200 --> 00:04:32.400 there's going to be a word in here for you. 79 00:04:32.400 --> 00:04:34.100 So bear with me. 80 00:04:36.600 --> 00:04:39.400 But we are after all here for this. 81 00:04:40.500 --> 00:04:45.000 We are here preparing students to obey God's call and to obey his 82 00:04:45.000 --> 00:04:45.600 command. 83 00:04:46.700 --> 00:04:49.700 So fourth years, it's time. 84 00:04:49.700 --> 00:04:53.500 I mean, another three more weeks but for now it is time. 85 00:04:53.500 --> 00:04:58.200 Reality is about to set in Revelation is coming. 86 00:05:00.200 --> 00:05:01.800 I'd like to reassure you of something. 87 00:05:02.900 --> 00:05:06.800 Because there's one last question that lingers in our lives. 88 00:05:07.700 --> 00:05:10.400 And I like to directly address it 89 00:05:11.500 --> 00:05:12.300 that the answer is no. 90 00:05:13.900 --> 00:05:14.800 You're not ready? 91 00:05:15.800 --> 00:05:16.700 And I'm not either. 92 00:05:18.900 --> 00:05:19.800 You're not ready 93 00:05:21.000 --> 00:05:22.300 for whatever call is coming. 94 00:05:27.700 --> 00:05:31.000 Because I'm not talking about your certification 95 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:35.400 and I'm not here to speak to the church and scare them off. 96 00:05:35.400 --> 00:05:39.100 I'm speaking to what's a war deep in my heart 97 00:05:40.400 --> 00:05:42.600 and what might be at war in yours? 98 00:05:44.800 --> 00:05:48.600 You see, you're not ready to preach week in and week out. 99 00:05:49.700 --> 00:05:52.800 Compelling and clever, articulate and insightful 100 00:05:52.800 --> 00:05:55.000 having a firm handle on God's word. 101 00:05:56.800 --> 00:06:02.000 You're not ready to be a leader, both assertive and humble. 102 00:06:03.000 --> 00:06:05.700 Ready to cast vision and be organized. 103 00:06:07.100 --> 00:06:08.500 You're not ready to counsel. 104 00:06:09.700 --> 00:06:11.000 To bear, their sins. 105 00:06:13.800 --> 00:06:18.300 To be what God has called you to be. 106 00:06:19.900 --> 00:06:21.100 Because you're not ready 107 00:06:21.100 --> 00:06:25.200 if there's still something lingering in your heart that desires, 108 00:06:25.200 --> 00:06:30.700 praise the secret longing, in our heart, that lives wanting to be 109 00:06:30.700 --> 00:06:32.400 loved for what we do. 110 00:06:34.100 --> 00:06:39.500 Because we need to come to grips with the truth that Call Day is not 111 00:06:39.500 --> 00:06:40.300 about you. 112 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:43.000 It's not about your potential. 113 00:06:44.700 --> 00:06:45.900 It's not about your accomplishments. 114 00:06:47.700 --> 00:06:50.100 It's not about what you're ready to do. 115 00:06:52.700 --> 00:06:59.300 And without, without minimizing misrepresenting or mocking 116 00:07:01.000 --> 00:07:02.200 I'd like to take this to heart. 117 00:07:03.800 --> 00:07:06.100 Call Day is about the love of God. 118 00:07:07.400 --> 00:07:09.500 And what he's done in Christ, Jesus. 119 00:07:11.400 --> 00:07:12.300 And that's the truth 120 00:07:13.600 --> 00:07:14.300 it really is. 121 00:07:17.800 --> 00:07:19.700 It's about what God has done for you 122 00:07:19.700 --> 00:07:22.400 and for those, he's calling you to. 123 00:07:24.200 --> 00:07:29.000 So from the one who knows everything from the one who is 124 00:07:29.000 --> 00:07:31.500 greater than your hearts and mine. 125 00:07:32.900 --> 00:07:34.400 Would you believe that truth? 126 00:07:35.300 --> 00:07:37.400 Would you receive that truth? 127 00:07:39.100 --> 00:07:41.700 Because God's love has nothing to do with you 128 00:07:42.700 --> 00:07:45.700 and it has everything to do with you. 129 00:07:47.400 --> 00:07:48.400 By this, we know love. 130 00:07:49.500 --> 00:07:51.300 That he's laid his life down for us. 131 00:07:52.700 --> 00:07:57.000 And he's taking it up again and he's giving it to all of us 132 00:07:58.300 --> 00:08:00.300 who believe and receive. 133 00:08:02.900 --> 00:08:04.600 So as you receive your call 134 00:08:05.700 --> 00:08:07.400 may you have confidence in that truth. 135 00:08:08.500 --> 00:08:09.400 May you find assurance 136 00:08:09.400 --> 00:08:14.900 that he knows what's best for your church and what's best for you. 137 00:08:16.500 --> 00:08:20.000 And may you be delighted to be invited into God's story. 138 00:08:21.000 --> 00:08:21.800 In this way 139 00:08:23.100 --> 00:08:24.500 and to hare his love with others. 140 00:08:26.100 --> 00:08:27.500 Because it's his love 141 00:08:27.500 --> 00:08:28.900 that makes all the difference. 142 00:08:30.400 --> 00:08:32.299 In the name of Jesus, Amen.