Many, many years ago when I first began to find myself drawn to serving in the Church, I asked the question, “Am I called to this?” A wise minister pointed out from the bible that we are all called, but I now also know that all Christians have a responsibility to discover the full scope or nature of that calling.
God has placed in my heart a love for His people, the Church, and I believe that all Christians share in this love with varying degrees of experience.
I love God’s Church, because Jesus loves it and was willing to die to redeem it.
I love God’s Church, because its message of God’s love and salvation in Jesus, is the true hope of this fractured world.
Whenever I have sensed my love waning for the Church, I have asked God to give me His love for His people – and God has never failed to answer that prayer.
Being a part of the Church leads me to loving service, serving the Church and serving the world in love. Whatever our vocations, we must seek to understand them in the light of this loving service.
When the apostle Paul says:
“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” (1 Corinthians 12:27)
– he means it! The only question left is: what part are we? May God fill us with His love for the Church and the world, so that we will be compelled by love to discover the full scope and nature of our call.
On a personal note, I have been grateful for the love God has given me for the people of St. Luke’s and it has been a privilege to serve you as the locum in this time of transition before a new minister is appointed. As my time finishes up at the end of October, I pray and look forward with hope for your next season in loving service…
Jerome Dias (Locum).
