Thought for today Paul, and His calling This might spoil a part of my sermon to be posted today, but here it goes. I was called to look into Paul and his ministry. Not his life. There is a difference. I could put up everything I know about him here but that might spoil things in the sermon so..... Here is some things I should point out. Jesus meets us where we are. He met a man names Saul on a road. A road taking him to persecute more Christians. In this amazing moment and moments after in the life of one man, would become so amazing that he would quite often report himself to be Paul, slave of Christ Jesus. Slave, a powerful word that means you serve a master, or something has dominion over you. This man would go into ministry and attempt to walk as close to Christ as any person could. But he would have to fight his failings, sin, the enemy, and at times even himself. He would by faith go all in and serve Christ and man. He would face many, many, many,many, many, many hardships. More than you, and more than I. He was treated so extremely harsh that most of us would have simply given up. I am not sure I could have endured his walk, in fact I know I wouldnt be that strong. But Paul, by his faith kept going, on and on. I was called to see Paul from a different perspective. From his trying ministry. Here was a man who felt the pain of the lost, wept for them not merely cried, there is a difference. He felt the world and how it was going, he prayed daily for many and his heart was in burden for all. I have to wonder. Why do those who stand so close to God feel and see life as He. How is that possible He could do that. In me I feel close to Paul and his ministry. I do worry about our way. I do feel things as God would intend. And at times I sit here wondering how much more larger can this become, and when it does...... How am I going to maintain direction. As a Pastor, I fear becoming too successful and somehow loosing sight on what it really is that I am doing. I would never want to lose me in it and for one second feel that my direction slips and that I would take any credit. Jesus is what everything is about, Jesus and that person working together to reach the goal for that person. I only want to be able to say that I stood there and saw it occur. I have nothing in it, only to be an observer. I would never want for one second to think somehow it was about me.... Make less of me so that there is more of He who leads me. At times I confess, I fear being noticed. For if nobody knows you, and you are in the shadows....... you dont have to be in the lights.... But too late, people know me now, they talk about me, and heck even people who dont know me, come to me so I can show them how to live in spirit and introduce them to Christ. The Lord tells me He would never lead me down a road I could not handle, but I have had experiences no man in todays world should ever have had. I cannot explain them, nor am I able to figure them out. The Lords hand at work for sure. Yesterday I attempted to record a sermon. It came out ok, but not feeling it. So I am redoing it today. I think that the Lord wanted me to sit with Paul for another day. There is something about his ministry that I can relate to. It is sooooooooo, in the place you are. No perfect moment, just Jesus coming to a person, and that person saying yes Lord I will follow, the a life unfolding that is so very.... unplanned, uncomfortable, but unstoppable, and unrestricted... Full of life. So as I get read to record for the second day in a row, I sit here and feel...... I feel somewhat amazed by everything in my ministry. All I can say is THANK YOU JESUS OK, son, lets get this day started Live loud, laugh much, and love with abandon +++Michael+++
Posted on: Sat, 22 Mar 2014 17:36:08 +0000
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