Saturday, October 20, 2012

It’s Not About You Or Me -- Really

“Everything they do is done for men to see.”

-- Matthew 23:5a

“For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

-- Matthew 23:12

It was sad, though probably not for the obvious reason. The man called to enlist my support. The prison ministry -- specifically he and a few others who went once a week to minister to those in the county jail -- was in jeopardy and he wanted me to make a phone call.

He went on about what he’d “heard.” He shared what “someone had said.” He had no facts and hadn’t yet talked with anyone in authority to even see if the rumors were true. He seemed shocked when I simply said no.

My former life as a journalist really highlighted the allegations and lack of facts. My life as a Christian took quick note that not once did he mention Jesus or God. His only concern was for himself and his friends. That was heartbreaking.

I’ve long wondered about this ministry. On the surface, it seems wonderful and I’m sure that these dedicated men have touched lives over the years. It just seemed that every time they talked about it, the focus was on themselves and not on God.

It’s easy to argue that any exposure to the gospel is good. I’m sure that some of the men in jail have never before owned a Bible or had someone talk with them about Jesus or pray with them. That’s a good thing.

But it’s not about those who minister. Somehow it seems as though they’ve lost that along the way. They’re impressed with themselves. They’re doing something many are afraid to do and others are too hard to do. It’s commendable, but only because they are following God’s call.

Or, at least, they were. That’s the danger in any ministry, when we begin to believe it’s about us and our opinions and our prayers instead of understanding that it all comes from God. Every word. Every thought. And when it doesn’t, well, it fails.

Like now. The previous jail administrator, a staunch supporter of the jail ministry, is now indicted in another county. There are changes coming. Maybe that’s not a bad thing.

Sometimes things need to shake up so that we can refocus again on what’s important: Jesus. God doesn’t call us to exalt ourselves. We are here to serve Him and to bring Him glory. Losing sight of that simple fact leads to a humbling that hurts us and those we are called to serve.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Follow God’s Plan For Your Life

We work together as partners who belong to God. You are God’s field, God’s building -- not ours.

-- 1 Corinthians 3:9

This certainly puts a different perspective on our own goals and dreams, doesn’t it? We are not our own. We belong to God. We are to spend our lives serving Him.

I can hear the chorus of “buts” loudly about now. I know God wants us to be happy. But, truthfully, aren’t we happiest when we’re doing what God has called us to do? Isn’t there a satisfaction and peace that comes from being exactly where we’re supposed to be?

Sometimes especially when it really isn’t where we ever wanted to be. That’s always been the funny part to me. How we can end up happy we’re doing something when we resisted for so long.

One man has worked in prison ministry for 21 years. He rarely misses a Tuesday night of teaching and praying and guiding men who are incarcerated in the county jail. He didn’t choose to do this. God chose him.

He laughs now when he recalls how he only meant to ask a co-worker how his experience ministering at the jail had gone. Without intending to, he found himself providing spiritual nourishment to the lost. He says he prayed for two years for God to get him out of prison ministry. Then he accepted it, and others have thrived because of it.

The reason? He submitted to God’s will. And he still does. Because some weeks he just doesn’t feel like going. And some weeks he is so stressed in his own life that he doesn’t have anything to give to anyone else. But he shows up anyway, trusting God to give him words and a heart that is open to the hurting around him.

Why do we wait until we “feel like it” to do what God has called us to do? Because we’re never going to feel like it and we’re always going to make excuses. It’s easier that way. We don’t have to leave our comfort zone. We don’t have to do something we’ve never done before. We don’t have to have compassion for others whose life experiences don’t reflect our own.

Oswald Chambers writes that we have no right to judge where we should be put. Nor should we have preconceived notions as to what God is preparing for us. We have skills we don’t realize. We have compassions we’ve yet to uncover. God has prepared us for works we never dreamed of.

We belong to God and He will use us to glorify His name. If we say yes. If we show up. If we trust His will for our lives. He will bless us in ways we can’t even imagine. All because