Immanuel Bulletin Series:
Immanuel’s Board of Education has received the names of several possible candidates for the call to our high school faculty. The Board will be presenting a call list to the voters in tomorrow evening’s meeting (7:00 p.m.). As always, non-voters are welcome to attend voters’ meetings.
Proverbs 16:9 ― “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”
The proverb is simply stated, but instills great confidence. When met with decisions in this life, it is necessary to use our God-given sense and abilities to evaluate the options, the pros and cons, the gains and losses. As we do this with a humble desire to follow God’s will and with prayer for the Lord’s guidance, we can be confident that when we have reached a decision it is from the Lord. We have planned the way, but the Lord directs our steps.
This confidence also applies to decisions we make together, including the choice of whom to call to our high school faculty. We plan our way, but God will direct the steps and call our next teacher.
God already knows to whom He has given the gifts that will best serve our school at this time and in these subject matters. God already knows the individual whom He wants to serve in this ministry. We just have to “catch up” to God and reach the point in time when He leads that individual to us.
If God is the one who is calling our new teacher, why doesn’t He make it more plain? Why does He have us go through a process and call someone? There are undoubtedly many reasons why God does this, but one of these reasons is: Trust. God wants His children to dig into His Word to find direction, He wants His children to use the truth He has given and apply it to their lives, He wants His children to turn everything over to Him in prayer and then take Him at His Word trusting that He will guide and bless the decision. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
There are a number of examples in Scripture to illustrate that when God calls “some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers” (Ephesians 4:11) it is He Himself who is calling.
Jeremiah was called by God to be a prophet to the people of Israel. God told him, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you I ordained you a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5).
Nor does God’s call always match what human reason might suggest. The prophet Amos was a sheepbreeder of Tekoa when God called him to be a prophet (Amos 1:1). Several of Jesus’ disciples were fishermen and none of the twelve were trained Bible scholars. Had Jesus set up a search committee, hired a “head-hunter,” or held an election, none of the twelve would have been chosen. Yet, Jesus called each one of them, equipped them, and poured out His Spirit upon them to do the work for which they were called.
David was just a shepherd boy, but God called him to be king of His people—Israel. When Samuel went to anoint the next king, he thought that David’s oldest brother was prime king material. However, Samuel wasn’t making the choice. God told Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).
Tomorrow evening when the voters meet, the Board of Education will present a call list. There will be discussion of the various candidates’ gifts, interests, and experience. In the end, the voters will vote to extend a call to one individual—we will plan our way. We can also be sure that as the voters humbly approach this task praying for God’s guidance, that the Lord will move the hearts of the voters according to His will—He will direct our steps. The one to whom the call is extended will receive God’s call.
This week: Pray for the Board of Education as they complete their preparation of the call list (tonight). Pray for the voters—that God would give wisdom and lead to the individual He has chosen. Pray for the one called—that God grant a humble spirit that submits to His will and follows as He directs.