The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
Grace: Secret and Service
I once delivered an address for the retirement of a pastor active in ministry at the same church for more than fifty years. My message began along these lines:
“I want to speak of dedication today. Of commitment. Of determination. Of steadfastness. Of faithfulness. Of stalwart devotion manifested all these years by one who unceasingly and tirelessly sought to serve the people of this congregation in faithfulness.”
I paused to let the thought sink in, and then continued:
“Yes, I know that Pastor John joins me in grateful wonder that the Lord Jesus Christ has been so dedicated, so committed, so determined, so steadfast, so faithful, so stalwart, so devoted, and so constant in service to His people in this church.”
John smiled and nodded his head in complete agreement, of course. As does every trusting, submitted believer who knows beyond all dispute that while we play a role in ministry to others, the motivator, guide, and enabler of our service is always someone other than ourselves. No act of genuine and truly beneficial ministry has ever originated in the human servant. Be it one word of one sermon, or a half century of messages beyond number, every ray of light that glorified God shined because and only because the Light Himself, the Lord Jesus, ignited and radiated through His servant. “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (II Corinthians 4:7).
I once heard another pastor upon his retirement respond to the question of how he hoped to be remembered. “As a man beyond reproach” he said. Yet another communicator was asked the same question as he stepped down from the pulpit. “As a man who has had an amazingly patient, gracious, merciful, and forgiving God” declared this brother. I must cast my lot with this brother rather than the former. How can it be otherwise for any human being? Indeed, so long as our sins - including those committed after we believed - made necessary the suffering, forsakenness, and death of the Lord Jesus, we all must join the latter pastor in the only sane perception of ourselves and any service for God and others we may have performed. As no less than the Apostle Paul confessed, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief” (I Timothy 1:15).
Pastor John will rewarded some day for his service to God and people (I Corinthians 3:10-14). He will be amazed and overwhelmed, of course, and if in Heaven one could or would argue with the Lord, John would protest. However, he will know the secret of grace regarding the doings of believers in this present life. Yes, John will realize that his efforts will not be rewarded for how hard and long he labored, but for how faithfully he received the grace that motivated, guided, and enabled his service. By His Spirit, the Lord Jesus occupied John’s pulpit and venue of ministry through the years, in dedication, commitment, determination, steadfastness, faithfulness, and stalwart devotion and constant service. He will receive all glory, just as John will desire. But our Heavenly Father will not fail to reward His servant for availing himself of the secret of grace in the Lord Jesus that makes possible all service of grace through the Lord Jesus…
“Let us have grace, that we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear.”
(Hebrews 12:28)
"I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”
(I Corinthians 15:10)
Weekly Memory Verse
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(I Thessalonians 5:23).
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