Waiting For Suddenly. 319, May 13, 2021

A few months ago, a friend and I were talking about biblical things. He mentioned a word he'd been exploring. The term, Suddenly.

Two days ago, I was dropping off copies of my prison book, FINDING MYSELF INSIDE, when I got talking with some Christians I knew. 

Suddenly, my friend's words came to me, and I began explaining the suddenlies in the Bible and life.

I first discussed how Solomon's temple was built after the stonemasons chipped the enormous stone blocks to size off-site. I mentioned that not a hammer was heard on-site as they fitted so perfectly with each other. Then I explained how the members of the Body of Christ would fit the same way. Perfected off-site, then brought together for the work. 

In the same context, I explained how new machinery suddenly appears in a factory ready for work. Yet, its creation takes much more prior time to manufacture and assemble according to the blueprint, ship it to site and install it in place. After the commissioning, it 'suddenly' comes into being.

Behind the scenes in our tiny lives, much work is done. We understand so little of God's big picture, grasping His shaping of us with as much knowledge as a steel bolt has about the machine it's screwed into.

After the long haul of life-changing experiences, we ‘suddenly’ come into ministry. 

As I was explaining this to my Christian friends, one of them, the songwriter and poet Paras Bovolos said, "Wow, I'm going to write a poem about that." She texted me yesterday to say it's completed and up on her website. 

The poem, Suddenly, which I not only like but think it explains God's workings in our lives very well, can be found at parasbovolos.com. (Scroll down to Suddenly) 

Paras also gave me a CD of her beautiful Christian piano music. Heather and I love it. It puts us in a peaceful and rejoicing state and is quite beautiful, especially when travelling or reading. 

Christ's disciples didn't realise they were in training for three and a half years, being shaped by Christ's words and actions. At Pentecost, they suddenly came into ministry. They didn't force themselves into ministry as some do, trying hard to be somebody special. They waited until God appointed them. 

As you wait for Suddenly, try to lift yourself above the day-to-day experiences to a place where you can see what God sees—what he might need out of you to fulfil His purpose, to come Suddenly into ministry. 

Today's prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for the work you put into me. Like a steel bolt, rod or cutting blade on a machine, I don't know what role I will play in the finished product. What I do believe is your work will be perfect. Please help me with my imperfections.

Photo by Christina Anne Costello