You Did Not Choose Me…
By General Bramwell Tillsley (Rtd)
On the eve of commencing your life’s work, remember that first
and foremost, the ministry is a calling.
As it was said of the Old Testament priest, so it must
be said of the New Testament
minister. “No man takes this honor upon himself; he
must be called by God” (Heb.5:4).
Jesus said, “you did not choose me, but I chose you” (John
15:16). Keep in mind, the call of God comes in a variety of
ways.
1: Sometimes God
speaks directly, in tones clear and unmistakable. “This is the
way; walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21).
To Paul – “Now get up and stand on your feet.
I have appeared to appoint you as a servant and as a
witness” (Acts 26:16).
But this is not the only way He calls.
2: God speaks in
terms of human need, though the need is not the call, but
rather the means used by God. General Bramwell Booth wrote:
“The great need of the world – its lost condition – is
sufficient call for anyone who has the opportunity to
respond.” In that
general sense, every Christian is called and is in “full time
service” 1 Cor.6:19,20.
3: But God has
chosen you personally, and given you the deep conviction that
“this is destiny.” In the challenging days ahead, it is this
sense of “call” that will serve as an anchor in the midst of
the storm.
I would urge you, through prayer and the word, to keep your
own heart right.
“Above all things, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring
of life” (Prov.4:23).
How tragic is the experience described in the Song of
Songs 1:6 –“They made me take care of the vineyards; my own
vineyard I have neglected.”
“Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which
the Holy Spirit has made you overseers” (Acts 20:28). The
order here is significant –“Yourselves –the flock.”
I would urge you to be a man/woman of the Word.
The word is the one thing God has specifically promised
to bless. “So is
my word that goes out from my mouth:
it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish
what I desire, and achieve the purpose for which I sent it”
(Isaiah 55:11).
This challenge of course implies the constant development of
your mind.
E.F.Scott reminded us that “ the failure of Christianity as
a moral force is more often than we like to think due
to no other cause than intellectual sloth.”
Bishop Oxnam added: “Our generation will not be led
spiritually by people it cannot respect intellectually.” Jesus
himself said: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and
with all your soul and with all your MIND.”(Matt.22:37).
Of course, matched with our knowledge of the Word must be a
knowledge of the World to which you are being sent. It has
been suggested that we study with the Bible in one hand and
the newspaper in the other.
In the High Priestly prayer (John 17) Jesus prays:
Father, “as you sent me into the world, I have sent
them into the world: (John 17:18). What do you understand by
the “world” into which you are being sent?
In the Sprunt Lectures at Union Theological Seminary, Waldo
Beach suggested OUR world is marked by three basic
characteristics:
1: Anomi—no norm For behavior –no absolutes – no authoritative
standard of right or wrong.
2: Anonymity –man has lost his sense of worth – his identity.
He is plagued with such questions as:
Who am I?
Why am I here? Where am I going?
Do I really matter as an individual?
3: Alienation –
broken fellowship with God and man.
Facing such a world, do not neglect the ministry of
Encouragement. “Anxious hearts are very heavy, but a word of
encouragement does wonders” (Prov. 12:25
TLB).
Dr. Carl Jung suggested “the central neurosis of our time is
“emptiness.” Mother Teresa added:
“The biggest disease today is the feeling of being
unwanted, uncared for, deserted by everyone.”
How a word of Encouragement is needed.
Many a preacher, including Dr. F. B. Meyer has indicated that
if he had life to live over again, he would devote more time
to the ministry of encouragement.
It was D.L. Moody who reminded us that people have a
way of becoming what we encourage them to be rather than what
we nag them to be.
We are in need of more leaders like Barnabas –“son of
encouragement.”
“See that the flock of God is properly fed and cared for” (1
Peter 5:2, Phillips).
“Cared for” is perhaps best represented by the Biblical
metaphor of the “Shepherd.”
Again Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd and know my
sheep” (John 10:14)
The only way this can be accomplished on any more than
a casual basis is to do what Ezekiel did when he responded: “I
sat where they sat” (Ezekiel
3:15, AV) This was not from an office with a computer.
Is visitation too old fashioned a term?
I think not.
By the way, if this is getting a little “heavy,” don’t neglect
to develop a good sense of humor.
Be ready to laugh at yourself as well as at situations
over which you have no control. Beware of taking yourself too
seriously. In
this regard, don’t limit your ministry by a fear of failure.
We are in desperate need of more creativity.
If a plan does not work, put it down to experience.
No good leader will criticize you for trying.
Although most of us will work within a system that require
accountability, keep in mind your ultimate accountability is
to God. Hopefully it will be said of you, “they watch for your
souls as they that must give account” (Heb.13:17).
I close by reminding you of Paul’s charge to Timothy – 1
Tim.1:12 -15. Here he
speaks of “Amazing Grace.”
1: Emancipating Grace – “Christ Jesus came into the world to
save sinners –of whom I am the worst” v.15
2: Employing Grace – “He considered me faithful, appointing me
to his service”
v.12
3: Enabling Grace – “ Christ Jesus, who has enabled me.” (v.12
AV)
4: Exceeding Grace –“The grace of our Lord was exceeding
abundant” (v.14, AV)
This grace is available to YOU.
“And God is able to make ALL grace abound to you, so that in
ALL things at ALL times having ALL that you need, you will
abound in every good work” (2 Cor.9:8)
Blessings on your ministry!
PS When God’s
work is done in God’s way, it will never lack for God’s
supply. (Hudson Taylor)
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