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Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber
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Friday,
January 5, 2024
"Steadfast"
(Part
4)
Message
summary: Down
through the
ages of the
church each
generation has
had reliable
servants of
Christ who
faithfully,
steadfastly
plugged along
in service for
the Lord
demonstrating
reliability.
And what about
you, whether
you are a
minister or a
lay person?
Are you
reliable?
Reliability
matters to
God.
"And
the things you
have heard me
say in the
presence of
many witnesses
entrust to
reliable men
who will also
be qualified
to teach
others" (2
Timothy 2:2).
This
first week of
2024
we have been
considering a
timeless call
of God for all
believers to
be steadfast.
On
Tuesday I
shared a
memory from 45
years ago when
a verse was
personally
spoken to me
during an
interview for
my ordination
which has
essentially
become my life
verse. It is
also my theme
verse for
2024. "Therefore,
my beloved
brothers, be
steadfast,
immovable,
always
abounding in
the work of
the Lord,
knowing that
in the Lord
your labor is
not in vain"
(1 Corinthians
15:58).
One
of the ways
I've sought to
encourage
others already
this year is
by quoting the
verse (I
memorized it
many years
ago) but
personalizing
it by using
their name.
Today I had
several
occasions to
do so in my
chaplaincy
role. I said,
"Therefore,
Rick, be
steadfast,
immovable,
always
abounding in
the work of
the Lord,
knowing that
in the Lord
your labor is
not in vain".
Today
I want to
share another
memorable
teaching and
candid
challenge I
heard when I
was younger.
It was at a
chapel service
at Zion Bible
Institute, at
that time in
Barrington,
Rhode Island.
I
was already
out of college
and in
ministry and
had probably
gone over to a
chapel service
to support
students who
attended our
church at the
time. We had
several that
we continue to
associate with
to this day,
most notably
Joel and
Adrienne
Charest, who
serve as
missionaries
in Africa.
The
speaker had a
much needed
word for the
students and
for all who
would listen.
He very
candidly
pointed out
(to this
effect), "I
may not be
very handsome"
(I can't
recall what he
looked like!),
"I may not be
the most
dynamic
speaker, I may
not be
musically
gifted" and he
listed several
other
characteristics
normally
associated
with "success"
in ministry.
Then
he said, "One
thing I can be
is reliable”.
That
was a good
word and a
vital
challenge for
young people
preparing for
Christ's
service.
Reliability is
also related
to
steadfastness.
The
apostle Paul
wrote, "And
the things you
have heard me
say in the
presence of
many witnesses
entrust to reliable
men who will
also be
qualified to
teach others"
(2 Timothy
2:2).
Reliability is an absolutely essential characteristic for effective service for the Lord (or for anything in life for that matter). Reliability is very underrated today and often under-appreciated. More people want flashiness. Many will crowd to get into the auditorium of a flashy speaker with the latest word or trendy message or to hear a singer or musician.
Reliability is an absolutely essential characteristic for effective service for the Lord (or for anything in life for that matter). Reliability is very underrated today and often under-appreciated. More people want flashiness. Many will crowd to get into the auditorium of a flashy speaker with the latest word or trendy message or to hear a singer or musician.
But
many thousands
of dedicated
pastors serve
God week after
week to much
smaller
crowds. And
the vast
majority of
God's work is
not being done
by
"professional"
clergy but the
scores of
faithful,
dependable,
lay people
serving God
day in and day
out in less
visible
settings all
around the
world.*
Here's
an example:
Mike and Kathy
Matangelo
would be
unknown to
most readers.
They had a
formative role
in the church
we planted in
1977,
faithfully and
reliably
serving in a
variety of
ways. Today,
in their
mid-seventies,
they still are
serving,
discipling men
in a prison in
North
Carolina. Each
week they
travel 30
miles to the
prison and
have done so
for almost 20
years.
In his final
book the
Apostle Paul
gave
instructions
to Timothy
about
preparing the
next
generation who
would bear
witness for
Christ to the
world. He
emphasizes
just one
characteristic
- reliability.
The KJV says "faithful
men".
Down
through the
ages of the
church each
generation has
had reliable
servants of
Christ who
have
faithfully,
steadfastly
plugged along
in service for
the Lord
demonstrating
reliability.
And what about you, whether you are a minister or a lay person? Are you reliable? Reliability matters to God.
Be
encouraged
today,
Hebrews
3:13
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father,
because of
reliable
believers who
not only lived
an exemplary
life but
boldly shared
the gospel
with me I too
became a
believer. You
have now
entrusted this
Gospel message
to me so that
I, too, can
transmit the
message of
redemption to
others. Help
me to be
characterized
by steadfast
reliability.*
This is not
meant as a
disrespect for
the many
faithful
servants in
"professional"
ministry.
Their
leadership
role is vital.
But I still
contend that
the vast
majority of
front-line,
field work
ministry is
done by
unheralded,
unpaid
servants of
God. Laity
comes from the
Greek word
"laos" which
means people.
Mike's
ministry to
prisoners is
called Transformation
Journey
We
enjoy a brand
of bread
called "Dave's
Killer Bread".
I tend to read
the packaging
of any product
and saw this
on the bread
wrapper during
our dinner
tonight:
"Today 1/3 of
our employees
at our Oregon
bakery have a
criminal
background,
and we have
witnessed
first-hand how
stable
employment
sparks
personal
transformation."
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