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2.3 Who Was Franklin Small?
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I love how Franklin's mother consecrated him at birth to the work of the ministry – reminiscent of Hannah dedicating Samuel. Even though Franklin went his own way for a time, that call was always there and his mother, and I would imagine others as well, were praying that God will carry the good work He started in him on to completion. I think that some times we go through things that we feel disqualify us from ministry – I know I have – and we need to be reminded that we serve a God who extends grace and forgiveness. Sometimes our journey may take longer than it needs to – think of the children of Israel spending 40 years wandering in the desert – but it is important to remember that God is with us and will finish what He started. The sooner we give ourselves over to Him, the sooner He can start!
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Hearing Franklin’s story I am reminded that we do not arrive at the call of God and stay there. His journey and calling had many different assignments but what did not change was the leading of the Holy Spirit – I think I see this in my own life. I never want to do a ministry job and think that the call of God begins and ends there, but I want to honour the part that assignment plays in the call of God on my life.
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Looking at how God engaged with Franklin Small throughout his lifetime, it makes me think that God uses everything that happens to us, from our victories and revelations, to redeeming our mistakes and our shortcomings, even beyond the span of our life! He weaves our story in to the greater story that He's telling and makes it for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose—not just good for us as individuals, but good for His whole people! I'm always amazed that God planted so much of His Word in my heart from such a young age, and even throughout my time of not walking with the Lord, He always was getting His Word in my ears and in front of my eyes! Faith comes by hearing and hearing again the Word of God, so God kept planting His word over and over until at just the right time, it bore in me a harvest of righteousness through faith in Jesus! Because this faith and righteousness would eventually come, the darkest times of my life become ripe for redemption, perfect candidates for the grace and glory of God to be displayed. I pray that this work God has started would have it's full effect on my whole life, past, present, and future.
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The first thing I think, no matter what struggles, hardships or hurdles persistence in following Christ and His calling brings much fruit. If at varying times in his life he would have stopped because of differences or struggles the following move/outpouring would have been missed. I see the same in my own life, and where there can seem to be so many reasons to stop moving forward with His call it because of perseverance and hope that fruit has been harvested.
There are so many crossroads where I see God's fingerprints. From the small everyday sustaining encounters to the major life altering milestones.
I AM CERTAIN and look forward to seeing His continuing work unfold in my life and what unimaginable things will sprout from it.
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