Jayden Discovers His Calling An Inspirational Story by by Pastor Tim BurtThe youth conference was over, much to Jayden's dismay. He had never felt so alive and hopeful as this weekend. Jayden just sat there as his friends filtered out the sanctuary and church. He felt like he had encountered God like never before and just wanted to bask in the feeling.Sitting in the almost empty church sanctuary, he began to think about Gramma Nee. His grandmother Bernice, or Gramma Nee, as Jayden and the rest of the family called her, was the most important person in his life. He could talk to her about anything. And she spoke to him frequently about God. He remembered Gramma Nee's words from last week. "Jayden, you are fourteen now, and I will start talking to you like a man. A thousand things can go wrong with your life, but even more can go right if you will receive Jesus into your heart as Lord and Savior and let the Holy Spirit begin to lead you as a man!" Pray with me right now and receive Jesus. Then, I want you to attend that youth conference this weekend at church. I know they have worked hard on that conference to impact all this city's youth and young adults. You be there!"Jayden was no pushover and provided many challenges for his mother. But when it came to Gramma Nee, he was amazingly compliant. She led him in a prayer to receive Jesus, helping him repeat the words to make that happen. And when he did, she gave him a hug that almost squeezed the breath out of him. With tears running down her face, she said, "Now, promise me you will attend that conference. Get there early and get as close to the front as possible, and attend every minute!" Jayden hugged her back and promised.
Now, as He sat in that sanctuary by himself, remembering and pondering all that had happened with Gramma Nee and the conference, he felt like someone who put on new clothes with no place to go. He found solace in the words of the Pastor and the Bible and wanted to become a man with a purpose. But he was also plagued with feelings of inadequacy and couldn't stop thinking about his shortcomings. He knew only too well of his weaknesses, and when he stumbled and fell into sin. Doubt crept into his mind, and he thought, "How could God possibly use someone as flawed as me?" At that moment, Pastor Samuel walked through the church sanctuary and saw Jayden sitting there."Jayden, what's happening? How come you are still here?" Jayden looked into his eyes and said, "Pastor, I've been thinking. I want to be a man of God and be used by God, but I'm not worthy. I have too much sin in my life! What do I do?"The two sat down, and Jayden told Pastor Samuel about Grandma Nee and their praying together before the conference. And Jayden told Pastor that the conference rocked his world! He wanted to start over but felt unworthy and didn't know how to begin.Pastor Samuel had his Bible in his hand, looked Jayden in the eyes, and said, "Jayden, you don't know this, but I felt just like you when I was younger and desired to be used by God. I felt unworthy!" "Then how did you become a Pastor?" Jayden asked. Pastor Samuel responded, "My Pastor sat me down and said, "Did you know that Moses, Gideon, Jeremiah, the Apostle Peter, and the Apostle Paul all felt inadequate to serve God? I couldn't imagine that to be true and so my Pastor walked me through five verses that I am now going to walk you through."Pastor Samuel had Jayden read each scripture and then expounded briefly on each one. He didn't need to say much because the words spoke for themselves!Moses:Exodus 3:11 (NIV) "But Moses said to God, 'Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?'"Gideon:Judges 6:15 (NIV) "But Lord, Gideon asked, 'how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.'"Jeremiah:Jeremiah 1:6 (NIV) "Ah, Sovereign Lord, I said, 'I do not know how to speak; I am too young.'"The Apostle Paul:1 Corinthians 15:9 (NIV) "For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God."Peter:Luke 5:8 (NIV) "When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, 'Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!'"Pastor Samuel finally read one last verse to Jayden.To us all! 2 Corinthians 5:21: "God made Jesus who had never sinned to be sin for us so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."Pastor Samuel looked at Jayden, putting a hand on his shoulder, and said, "Jayden, in your entire life, you will never feel worthy to serve Almighty God. He is holy, and the Bible says our righteousness is like dirty rags. God has put His robes of righteousness upon us so that when He looks upon us, He sees us wearing the robe of righteousness he has given us that makes us holy before Him. This is the gift we receive when we receive Jesus. And this is why we can answer God's call upon our lives. Would you like to pray with me and tell God how you want to be used by Him? Jesus is waiting with open arms like He was with his disciples." Jayden nodded, and together they prayed. Samuel was never the same.And when Jaydon came home and told Grandma Nee the story, tears of joy flowed from her eyes for a long time, and her big smile seldom left her face!
Isaiah 61:10 (NIV) "I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns His head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."In His love,Pastor Tim Burt
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