As I was asked to share, I was at first excited and surprised by the offer. I like to think I like to write. I like to share my thoughts and ideas. I can do this. Then I began to question, “Who wants to hear what I have to say? What can I write about?” I looked to my pastor for advice, wisdom, anything he could offer. He gave me the scriptures to use and his thoughts that he thought suited me. So, I will start with a little story.
This story is about a young man. This young man attends the local church. He has been attending for several years. This young man has been baptized and a member of the church. This young man believes he is a good person, does good things and helps out. He has been baptized and believes in Jesus Christ. He is saved.
He attends church, usually. Not afraid to miss if life gets busy. Attends Sunday nights or Wednesday services seldomly, as he feels Sunday mornings are enough time for God. He is a good person and believes in Jesus.
As this young man is attending church though, he is hearing the pastor deliver messages on the Word and Truth of God. As time goes on, this young man’s heart is pierced by these messages. The young man starts to feel a prick in his heart with every message. He starts to feel like something is missing but does not quite know what it is. He starts to search for what is engaging his heart and his soul. He starts to read his bible more. He starts to look harder for what is pulling on his heart.
Then, sometime and somewhere, there is a change in this young man, in his heart and in his mind are changed. Everything he sees and hears and smells and touches and tastes are all different now. He now knows what it was he was missing and his heart was longing for. Jesus Christ.
The young man now led by the Holy Spirit, makes it a point to dive into his Bible daily. He starts asking how to pray, he is praying how to pray, and he is praying more. First alone with God, for himself and then for others, and praying more with his family. This young man starts making God a priority and attending all church services, not out of obligation but out of a desire to be close to God. He starts to ask how or what he can do to help serve in the local church, to serve God’s kingdom. This young man starts to assist a Sunday School class for kids or youth, then leads to leading a Sunday School class and helping with more of the worship services. Then one day, that young man even realizes that God had been calling him all along into ministry.
This young man was and is me. This is my testimony. I thought I was a good person, but I am not and I need Jesus. I am now different, changed, and look to answering God’s call on my heart and my life.
For you, the pastor, keep preaching the Truth, keep preaching the word. You have the duty and the privilege and the pleasure to plant the seed, or even provide the water for the seed that maybe someone else planted. But it is God who gives the growth.
1 Corinthians 3
5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, and each has the role the Lord has given. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So, then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.
Stay faithful to the Word of God. Trust and know that the Word that goes out will not return empty, but that it will accomplish what God pleases and will prosper in what God sends it to do. As you study and prepare and deliver a faithful message to your congregations, know God is doing the work in their hearts and minds. You continue to honor God by planting and watering the seed with the Truth and the Word.
Isaiah 55
10 For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return there without saturating the earth and making it germinate and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, 11 so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.”
About the Author:
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