A little over a week ago I decided to make a trip back home to Zionsville. I recently graduated from IU and am currently living in Bloomington, but for a couple of reasons I wanted to spend the weekend at home. It was a much needed oasis from my daily routine here in Bloomington and the biggest thing that I experienced while home was a lesson I heard at our home church on Sunday.
Our lead pastor was teaching on James 2. This is considered to be a controversial chapter in the Bible because is stresses the importance of faith through works. It is often misunderstood and targeted by those who desire to attack the Christian faith.
Always a good start when you hear those words about a sermon.
The main focus of the sermon was that if your faith is reduced to something you just say you believe in but it hasn’t affected your actions then what you are calling “faith” won’t do you or anyone else around you any good. A question our lead pastor, Aaron Brockett, asked us was, “What tangible good does your faith do in the lives of anyone else?” This message sparked something profound in me but what really hit me was the last couple of remarks at the end of the sermon.
Aaron stressed throughout his talk that James, in this chapter, isn’t talking about your faith or your salvation but rather how your faith affects everyone else.
Aaron concluded, “So many of us read this passage in James 2 and ask ourselves, ‘Okay, what is James saying? Are we saved by our faith or are we saved by our works?’ And James is like, ‘That’s not even in my thinking right now.’ James was talking about the millions of people outside of the grace of Jesus Christ’s faith.
And you are God’s plan A.
Why you do you think you’re still here?
It’s not to make another buck, you are here to represent who Jesus is and to be on mission with God.”
Right when I heard that I felt like a brick had just struck my chest with full force. For a reason I couldn’t quite understand at the time, I was stopped in my train of thought and felt like I was fused to my seat.
It helped me realize that no matter where I am in my life or what I have going on, God always finds a way to smack me up side the head and guide my attention to something bigger at hand. My God is not a lethargic God—He doesn’t avoid us and hope we realize His plan for us. He is constantly pursing us in an attempt to reveal to us the great plans He has in store for us.
For the rest of the day those words from Aaron were repeated in my mind like a broken record. That force that felt like a brick to my chest knocked the spiritual wind out of me just enough that it humbled me to personal reflection. I realized that God has put me here, in this exact spot in this world for a reason.
I am His plan A.
My four years at college has helped me develop in many ways. But as I reflect on this chapter in my life, I feel I am now just starting to reveal a bigger purpose for my life. It’s like my whole life leading up to this has left me feeling that I have just scratched the surface. It isn’t by happenstance that I am here. All of the mistakes, trials, accomplishments, relationships, heartache, and celebration has made me the person I am today, and God has full intention of developing me to do His work—to display my faith through works to shock His world.
Thank you to all who have supported me in my mission. This past month I surpassed my 50% fundraising goal and now this trip is beginning to become a reality to me. Whether you have supported me financially, spiritually, or through encouragement, I am deeply thankful. I am $6,545 away from changing the world and having God change my world, and this is only made possible through the power of God and the generosity of others.
If want to check out the sermon Aaron spoke on, click here: http://www.tpcc.org/media/ (Faith and Works)
If you want to help support the $6,545 I need for my mission, click here: https://www.adventures.org/give/donate.asp?giveto=worldrace&desc=Donovan%20McCloskey&appeal_id=MCCLOSKEYDONOVAN
If you want to reach out and talk about the work I will be doing contact me here:
(317)626-5499
