Editors Note: We are on computer death watch at our home! It seems that the S.M.A.R.T. status is telling us that our hard drive is failing. It may not be long now, so for the time being our blog entries will be infrequent at best. Those of you who are keeping up with my teaching blog, is back to being active over at fsbiblethoughts.blogspot.com. I am covering the Life Of David with our Men's Group. Now, back to our regularly scheduled program...
Hello All,
One of the greatest pitfalls that a young minister can fall into is that of comparison. There are always other ministers, with great ideas and innovations, that you have not thought of or even begun to comprehend. Additionally, it seems from the outside, that everything that they do turns to gold. Everything from numbers to events, and on and on.
This used to really depress me as a young minister. I saw other ministers getting attention, being asked to speak or given platforms to promote their latest thing. In the meantime, I felt that I was barely able to keep my head above water! Comparing myself with others stretched out into every area of my life. Speaking, leading, worship leading, and drumming. I was constantly looking at other people's performances and seeking to measure myself against them. This made me miserable when I did not measure up, and proud when I felt that I did. Either way, it did nothing for my Christianity, for either response robbed God of the glory that He should receive from every life, and through every life.
God has uniquely gifted each one of us, and His creative work cannot be compared with another of His equally magnificent created works. I think a lot about Ephesians 2:10 which tells us that we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works. It's been well documented that the Greek word for "workmanship" is "poema." We are God's creative expression! But notice also that we, the expression of God, are also set apart for specific good works that we are to do! I will accomplish, through God's grace, all that He has set up to do! And those works are valuable to Him, though I myself might wonder at their validity in the light of what I might consider to be "great works."
Eventually, I made a decision that I would refuse to look at another minister and compare my ministry with his. It also helped that I realized that I can't be like other guys, even if I wanted to! Some guys don't need as much sleep, are willing to go miles beyond my break point, and are generally tempered in a much different way than I am. God has not designed me that way. Other burdens are on my heart, other opportunities fill my day planner, and I must be satisfied with those.
More than anything, I would encourage you, our friends, to consider yourself the Lord's Special Expression. You are a work of His art that is seen and appreciated by perhaps, a select few. But consider this: God loves them enough to express Himself through you, in order that He might be glorified in you!
For that purpose, there is no comparison!
Blessings...To Our Friends,
Frank Sanchez
Hello All,
One of the greatest pitfalls that a young minister can fall into is that of comparison. There are always other ministers, with great ideas and innovations, that you have not thought of or even begun to comprehend. Additionally, it seems from the outside, that everything that they do turns to gold. Everything from numbers to events, and on and on.
This used to really depress me as a young minister. I saw other ministers getting attention, being asked to speak or given platforms to promote their latest thing. In the meantime, I felt that I was barely able to keep my head above water! Comparing myself with others stretched out into every area of my life. Speaking, leading, worship leading, and drumming. I was constantly looking at other people's performances and seeking to measure myself against them. This made me miserable when I did not measure up, and proud when I felt that I did. Either way, it did nothing for my Christianity, for either response robbed God of the glory that He should receive from every life, and through every life.
God has uniquely gifted each one of us, and His creative work cannot be compared with another of His equally magnificent created works. I think a lot about Ephesians 2:10 which tells us that we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works. It's been well documented that the Greek word for "workmanship" is "poema." We are God's creative expression! But notice also that we, the expression of God, are also set apart for specific good works that we are to do! I will accomplish, through God's grace, all that He has set up to do! And those works are valuable to Him, though I myself might wonder at their validity in the light of what I might consider to be "great works."
Eventually, I made a decision that I would refuse to look at another minister and compare my ministry with his. It also helped that I realized that I can't be like other guys, even if I wanted to! Some guys don't need as much sleep, are willing to go miles beyond my break point, and are generally tempered in a much different way than I am. God has not designed me that way. Other burdens are on my heart, other opportunities fill my day planner, and I must be satisfied with those.
More than anything, I would encourage you, our friends, to consider yourself the Lord's Special Expression. You are a work of His art that is seen and appreciated by perhaps, a select few. But consider this: God loves them enough to express Himself through you, in order that He might be glorified in you!
For that purpose, there is no comparison!
Blessings...To Our Friends,
Frank Sanchez
1 comment:
nicely put
-jason
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