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The Challenge of Seeming Failure
Devotional Thought/Discussion point of the day”
10 In my life in union with the Lord it is a great joy to me that after so long a time you once more had the chance of showing that you care for me. I don’t mean that you had stopped caring for me—you just had no chance to show it. 11 And I am not saying this because I feel neglected, for I have learned to be satisfied with what I have. 12 I know what it is to be in need and what it is to have more than enough. I have learned this secret, so that anywhere, at any time, I am content, whether I am full or hungry, whether I have too much or too little. 13 I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me. Philippians 4:10-13 (TEV)
One of the conversations during my trip on the mission field, was about the harsh reality of ministry, how the dreams of how it would be can come crashing down, when we face the daily grind on the field. When the results we long for, do not come to fruition right away, or even after a year or two. For young people in ministry, this can be a hard lesson. It doesn’t always get easier either, and far too often I have known the feeling – could I be more productive for God’s kingdom in another place? Could I do things differently? It’s easy to get caught up in visible results – and loose hope. This is most certainly true when it seems we have to teach the same lesson, repeatedly, year after year, month after month, heck – sometimes in the same Bible Study or counseling appointment.
Despite what Paul is saying – it is hard to be content with life at times – and that means it is also hard to be content with life in the ministry at times. This is true for pastors, and it is true for those one the foreign mission field, and I suspect it is for all of us.
After all, don’t they know the treasure we have? Why don’t people respond like on the day of Pentecost? Isn’t that the way it is supposed to happen, with hordes of pagans coming forward to be baptized, to be cleanse of their sins, to win the battle over the anxiety and fear caused by sin, satan and death’s bondage over them?
As I “re-enter civilization” (though I found China far more civilized than the USA) I wonder about my own ministry. Why can a church in China respond in months and be 500 plus people, while mine hovers in the 50’s? Is it that my people don’t treasure and trust in God’s love enough? (and if they don’t – does that mean I am a failure as a pastor?) Is there something wrong with what we are doing? Could there be a place where I am more productive, is there a pastor that would be more productive here? All those questions run through our heads, and I witnessed that in China, among those serving God there as well. It is easy to get disillusioned, disheartened, it is easy to let our minds run wild with questions….
Those questions occasionally need to be asked. But not in the darkness of night, not in the times when we are alone, when Satan can even more draw our attention from God’s presence. We do need to consider what we are doing, how we do it. But that shouldn’t be such that we feel condemned – but focused, energized, our vision clarified, our hope in God renewed….and ourselves content with the place and situation where God has put us.
That is the purpose of self-evaluation, it why we do it in the light of day, in the presence of God, with strong advisers who are willing to invest themselves in helping us. We especially focus, not on our work, but on the mercy of God – on the very thing we treasure, for the reason we started to serve others, either as a lifetime, fulltime vocation, or just as part of our regular day. We have to look to Him at these times… for there the shadows and doubts are dismissed by His glory, and we see things as they are.
Once again, I find some.. help focusing at the end of my devotions…in the words of someone familiar with both the successes and seeming failures of ministry.
“You must be careful: don’t let your professional success or failure—which will certainly come—make you forget, even for a moment, what the true aim of your work is: the glory of God!” (1)
Now, let’s get back to working at our Father’s side. Depending on His power, His mercy, His love…..
Godspeed
Escriva, Josemaria (2011-01-31). The Forge (Kindle Locations 2576-2577). Scepter Publishers. Kindle Edition.
Churches, Cathedrals and a foretaste of Heaven
Ten sanctuaries in one day… well technically 11 if your include the sanctuary inside the sanctuary. (not counting the chapels inside the saccharine!)
Incredible artwork, some of the best mankind has known, incredible paintings, sculptures, frsscoes – 700 to 1000 years old!
Magnificent spaces, unlike any I have ever seen. Breathtaking (and pictures cannot describe them… you have to see them to comprehend the effect on the senses. Nor could words describe their beauty, the majesty, the incredible skill used to magnify God’s work, rather than glorify man.
Yet, even while these works testify God, they cannot be but one one-millionth of the reality of seeing God, face to face….
My favorite verse says it all…
2:9 but it is as scripture says: What no eye has seen and no ear has heard, what the mind of man cannot visualise; all that God has prepared for those who love him; 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NJB)
Even so, I will look at these places with great joy… knowing that what awaits is a million times more…
Godspeed!
One holy, catholic and apostolic church…how?
Devotional thought of the day:
It is a line from our creeds, “I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic church.” Many believers – even a majority say such a phrase at least once a week, as we are gathered together by God, in His presence, in His Name.
Yet do we desire that which we state we believe in, that which the Holy Spirit creates as He calls and gathers us and sets us apart as His people. For the church is simply that – in Greek – “the called”, or “the chosen”. And many of us desire that the church be one, whether it is the church across the world and across all denominational boundaries, the church as in our particular denomination/synod/sect, or whether it is the church as in our own local expression of the church – the congregation – those gathered together in one place, where God put His name – so they can pray and know they are forgiven, and that those who don’t know God can pray, and they can know He is.
When the creed was composed, the idea of “one church” was obvious – both the word “one” and the word “catholic” testify to the church. But our forefathers in the faith were quite wise in adding the other words, “holy” and “apostolic”. For there we find some of the things which express our unity together.
Holy is much misunderstood these days – as if someone who is “holy” is a goody-two shoes, the person who never makes an error in morality, never doubts, always is serving others – an ideal saint. But if you look in history, saints were pedestal people (well – except for the Stylites…but that’s another story) They were common people often, who had to deal with anxieties, who had to deal with family issues, and financial struggles, who were challenged by their governments, and somehow – realize that the answer was not within themselves, but found in realizing that God was God, and God loved them. Their trust in God and HIs promises, was the the foundation of their strength, they would become attune to the direction of God, and while they would still sin like the rest of us, they could be assured that even there God was working.
The work of making them holy – wasn’t their discipline, it was and is the Spirit working in them, sanctifying them – making them saints. Setting them apart for God’s work, no matter whether the work is baking bread (like the lay-brother who wrote “practicing the presence of God – or the new baker whose work with provide for and subsidize a new seminary in the Sudan) or whether it is preaching and leading others deeper into dependence on God as priests and pastors and missionaries and Sunday School teachers.
And that brings us to the other word – we are an apostolic gathering of people. The question I’ve asked – is tha apostolic as in hearing the apostles teaching, or is it apostolic as in the idea that we – like the many people talked about as apostles in the New Testament (besides the 12 ) are sent into the word, to reflect the glory of God, and be His ambassadors to bring hope to the world. I tend to think it is both, but more the latter. And that is where the church is seen by the world, as it brings hope for healing -healing of relationships, healing from the damage of sin, healing of families, as we realize that Christ is healing us.
one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church – the body of Christ that is set apart to be salt and light in the world.
When you see it occur, you know it, and it is truly amazing….. God’s people, knowing the glory of His love and mercy and peace… and their reflection of that – drawing people into that very glory.
May we cry, “Lord have mercy” and find that He has…together.
The Pastoral Mission/Apostolate
Discussion thought of the day:
“1:24 I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church. 25 God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you. 26 This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. 27 For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.
Colossians 1:24-27 (NLT)
There is something about being a pastor, that those considering going into the ministry should know- it means long hours and being witness too – close witness too, like down in the muck with, people in trauma, people in pain. God gives us all, but especially those entrusted with shepherding His people, the responsibility to be down in the muck, involved in the brokenness, there alongside those who heart.
Some may think the job is somewhat glamorous – after all – having 95 percent of a crowd from 30 to 30,000 listening to you talk for 12 -45 minutes may sound good, BUT, the message is best delivered to those who need hope, which means you have to be there with them – to show them the hope they do have…
It is when they listen to the warnings, to the teaching, when they realize the power of the truth that God in Christ is in them – with them – working on and through them…..
Yeah – that’s why you will learn to love the suffering, the pains, the trauma – not because its fun, but because of the message that you bring, that in the midst of trauma – results in joy, peace, the ability to endure… because we know Christ is with us.
(By the way – this call – while different in scope – is still the call of the priesthood of all believers… they too can be there… bringing peace that overwhelms our understanding……)
Whether clergy or laity, or something in between – remember the hope of Glory you have, and share it with someone who needs it as well…
