Graduation and God's Credentials

On Dec. 8, I donned the black gown, black cap, and black tassel with a gold pendant reading 2012 before walking down the aisle and across the stage for a small, rolled up paper bound by a blue ribbon. On Dec. 18, I climbed into my snow-covered car and drove to Reno to take my last final. And sometime in January, I will receive in the mail the framed paper signifying that according to the University of Nevada, Reno, I will be qualified to be a journalist and a writer of English. I will be ready to step into the world and begin doing what I have been trained to do — provided I find someone willing to accept these credentials.

But what is it exactly that makes me qualified? The working world and the education world say it's the piece of paper that shows I spent 16 or more years training. But what about what God says? Am I qualified to work in His world?

The answer is no. And I don't have to be. You see, I am not qualified — I am called. The world says, "You have the training, so I choose you." God says "I choose you, and I will train you." In John 15:16 God tells us this plan, with no age limitation: "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and your fruit should remain."

I was actually called many years ago, as early as five, to begin my training. And that is how God works, calling His children at a young age and training them to be qualified.

One of the youngest in the Bible that God called and trained was King Josiah, found in 2 Kings 22: 1-2. Josiah was only 8 when he was placed on the throne. Now, how much did you know about life at 8 years old? Enough to rule a kingdom? I know I certainly didn't.  Yet Josiah "did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the ways of his father David."

The prophet Samuel was also called at a young age, quite literally. In 1 Samuel 3, we see God's first prophecy to Samuel, who the scripture calls a "boy." At the end of the chapter, we see as God trains him to be the prophet: "So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground."

During the time of the New Testament, men were old enough to work and women were old enough to wed at the ages of 12 and 13. As such, many theorize that Mary was around 12 years of age when the angel appeared to her.

Jesus himself was following God's calling as early as 12, as we see in Luke 2:41-49. Joseph and Mary found him teaching the scholars in the temple. After He was chastised for disappearing, He reminded them of what God called Him to do. "Why did you seek me? Did you not know I must be about my Father's business?"

Even today, God calls before He trains. Pastor Marvin Dennis, who retired this last month, preached for 40 years — 25 of which were at Good Shepherd Wesleyan Church, and the last eight of which I had the honor of learning from his messages. He was called to preach at the age of 15. One of Awana's founders, Art Rorheim, was called into youth ministries at age 17. Today, at 94 years of age, he still teaches at Summit and at headquarters.

In Awana, part of what we are to do is to help children to know where God is calling them, teaching them to be open to the training God has in store. In the key verse for Journey, 1 Timothy 4:12,
Paul points out that even at a young age, Timothy's call is important and has an impact.

So what does that mean for the framed paper I am to receive in January? It means that at the age of five, God called me to write, and now, at the age of 21, I have completed one step of His training.

I pray you all have a Merry Christmas, and I encourage you to meditate on what and when God called you, and how He has given you the training to do His will.

Be sure to check back in the new year as I share the things God is teaching me through the children!

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