Joshua 4:1-7 When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, “Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests are standing, and carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.”
So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”
What do you want to be when you grow up? Maybe you haven’t asked yourself that in a while, but it’s a relevant question, even if you are retired. Okay, obviously, most of us are already “grown-ups,” but the point is, what are we meant to do with our lives? When we are young, it’s a decision about where to go to school, what fields to choose to pursue, and who to be in a relationship with. When we get more accomplished, it’s about career selection, church selection, and what we will do with our time. As life continues, it’s often about figuring out if our lives are meaningful enough and if we are actually doing the right kinds of things.
This week, we are focused on serving in God’s kingdom work. The question I want to address is this: how do you choose where to serve, and what do you do when you serve? Should you just pick the biggest need?
I shared this Joshua passage because it relates to a little meditation/journal practice that might help you figure out the best place to serve. It may even help you with some vocational decisions! It’s called “stones, wires, and fires”.
Stones
Just like in this Joshua passage, stones represent significant experiences in your life. Take some time to write down and reflect on your past. What are the stones of your life? Some will be positive things and some will be negative experiences. Things like a mentor conversation that shifted something for you, your parents’ divorce, a special conversation, a relationship you started.
Wires
This step is about figuring out how you are wired. What are your strengths and weaknesses? Are you good with admin? Do you have a knack with computers? Are you an introvert or an extrovert? You can take a number of aptitude and personality tests to help you figure out some of this. Take some time to do that.
Fires
This step is about passion. What subjects or problems in this broken world cause you to get fired up? What do you tend to notice most in the world that just needs some fixing, where you are passionate about being part of the solution?
Okay, now you have your stones, wires, and fires. Take some time to process them. Talk through them with a friend or loved one. Are there any trends? Are there any serving opportunities that jump out to you now that you see what faculties God has gifted you with? This practice might help you figure out His unique calling on your life.
by Aaron Bjorklund
