Am I Doing Enough?
It's hard to believe it's almost been a year since I started working toward my Master's of Ministry degree through Crown Seminary. I am nearing the completion of my second course. I've only got one more assignment to complete and should have that finished by tomorrow. It took me a month longer than expected because of Thanksgiving and Christmas being in the middle of it all. I've really been buckled down these past 3 weeks trying to get it finished though and I can see a light at the end of the tunnel.
One of the great things about taking these classes is the way that I am challenged Spiritually. I guess digging so deep into God's Word and doing all of the assignments has a way of opening my mind more. Today I was reading one of the required books, "Following Christ and Fishing For Men," by Clarence Sexton, and it really caused me to do some soul searching. Read on...
I've been involved in church ministry for many years as a music minister, Sunday school teacher, and preacher of the Gospel. I wish I could work in the ministry full-time and not have to worry with my secular job because the only time I'm truly happy is when I'm doing things for the Lord. Hopefully, if it's God's will, after I finish Seminary I can make some changes.
I have a burden and love for my fellow church members. All through my day I'm thinking about them and wondering how they are getting along. We have several members that are going through different health issues and I worry and pray for them constantly. If one of our regular members misses a service I sit and wonder if something has happened to them, if they are sick, or some other problem. I suppose all of this is well and good but one thing that I believe I have been lacking in is reaching out to folks outside of the church. Oh sure, if it is convenient for me I will witness to someone but I don't purposely go about seeking for lost people to witness to. I suppose I've always felt that as long as I was working inside of the church then I was doing my part.
Well, like I said, after reading this recent book, I've really been convicted of not fulfilling the Great Commission as well as I could be. One example in the book was how Jesus went out of His way to witness to people. He didn't necessarily go where it was convenient. Just like in a recent message I preached, Jesus sought people out. I don't think I've been doing enough seeking. It is my full intention to change that and try to do a better job. It is awfully easy to hide behind the pulpit and preach to folks that mostly claim to be saved as opposed to going out and taking that message to a lost and dying world.
So, you pray for me that I'll do God's will in my life. That's all I really want anyways. How about you? Are you saved? If you aren't, would you please listen to THIS MESSAGE? If you are, are you following God's will for your life? Are you doing your dead-level best for the Lord? If not, how about joining me in fulfilling the Great Commission?
1 comments:
Byron,
One morning before I talked to you recently, I was led to post a brief testimony on FB with a song called "Born Again" attached. Just a few people even made mention to it, obviously passing it off as just a 'cliche' Christian posting.' For me, it was one of the hardest things I ever had to do to write it and put something like that out there. But God had humbled me, so I did it. After years of being an unfruitful seed I opened my heart and put a few words about how Jesus had moved in my life the past few months. Over the past several years I had become a better person, husband and father, but only last year did it sink in that you can only be so good without Jesus in your life. I pray all the time now and read my Bible every day and it's amazing how real God's power becomes. When I have a bad day I assure myself through faith that things will get better soon. And they do, or I see why something happened. I can't believe I went so many years with so little interaction with Jesus. Yet he was there beside me all the way. Like that song by the Sidewalk Prophets goes:He loved me Anyhow. Now its time I try to repay him. Thanks for the hard work you put into serving Him. You never know who you might reach.
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