Our word for this second week in the New Year is the Hebrew word “m-on- e-h.”
Maybe you think it means “money,” (I did!) but it really means “number” or “ordain.” Now you know what “number” means, but do you know what “ordain” means.
And how is it related to “number?”
From the Latin, “ordain” means “to predestine” or “to determine someone’s destination.” It’s related to the familiar advice “to number your days.” We are all called by God for some purpose i.e. we are all “ordained” for some purpose, and we have a limited number of years to fulfill that call or “ordination!”
The apostle Paul describes his ordination or purpose in the book of Romans and he said four things:
• I am an apostle because I was sent with a message;
• my message is from Jesus the resurrected Son of God;
• the message is for everyone who will listen to it;
•. the message calls us to a life of obedience to the Christian faith.
And now we’re ready to move on.
But first of all, you ought to know the difference between being “called” and being “sent.” Every Christian is called to some purpose i.e. “a life of obedience” in your “Jerusalem and Judea” (your home area).
Apostles are sent to other people and/or other places in “Samaria and the uttermost ends of the earth” (outside their home area).
So, Paul begins in Romans saying:
“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because the whole world is hearing about your faith.”
— Romans 1: 8
But what is faith? Lots of people have tried to define faith and we’re still not quite sure what it means — we’re saved by faith, and it’d be great if we knew what it means.
In Hebrews, Paul says:
“Faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see.”
— Hebrews 11: 1
But the writer realizes that’s a bit vague and means different things to different people, so he continues by telling the incredible, real-life stories of people throughout Biblical history who lived by their faith — Abraham, David, Isaiah, Mary, Paul, and now it comes down to us.
What’s your story?
Charles “Buddy” Whatley is a retired United Methodist pastor serving Dawson Street Methodist Church in Thomasville, Ga. With wife, Mary Ella, they are missionaries to the Navajo Reservation.
