Where I Am Needed

"And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" But when Jesus heard that, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick." (Matthew 9:11-12) As a pastor, I am among those who are sick spiritually. Not that I am anyone special, but I was given a special ministry.
At times this ministry is overwhelming. I know probably more than anybody in the congregation the hurts, the needs, because it is my work to know, and to offer encouragement from God's Word. There are times, I want to retreat from it, and do, because the expectations become very heavy. But when I realize how important my work is, it challenges me anew. The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the the glory of God." We are all sinners, needing the great physician to mend our brokeness. Oh how important it is for us as spiritual leaders, to help our great physician, get the medicine of God's Word to people who really need it. I am nothing of myself, except a spiritual vessel, that carries what is needed to those who thirst for insignt from God, for their lives. There are those times that I look around, to find a place of refuge for me, a place where I can hide, and not be so burdened with the cares, and needs of others. But then I look up at my ordination certificate, and see the words "MINISTER OF CHRIST" and it reminds me that I am the Lord's special tool of encouragement. That where I am, I am needed.
As spiritual leaders, the resources are there to help us when the task gets heavy. We need to take advantage of what is given to us freely, so we can be always ready, to make a difference for Jesus in people's lives.
Dear Lord Jesus, help us to see,
That we are your instruments of grace, and mercy.
May the burdens of others, never be too much,
That we fail to reach out, with the Shepherd's touch __GP
(GP)

The Wonderful Work Of Christ

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." (Romans 5:1-2)
To often I find myself, along with other Christians, trying to work to get to a place where we are truly pleasing to God, and performing works that we think will be amazing in His sight, and in the sight of others.
Being Justified by faith, means that we trust in the work of Christ to set us free from sin, and to place us in His eternal grace. To put it bluntly: It's not about us, but it is about Jesus!
If it were not for the work of Jesus, we would not be able to wear a robe of righteousness, that He placed on us, when He took our place at Calvary. The Apostle Paul told us that “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
(Ephesians 2:10)
The main focus is on His workmanship, not ours.
Our good works is a result of His workmanship in and through us.
I believe that in trying to aggressively be the person God wants us to be, in His Son, we forget to allow the Son, to help us accomplish it. If it were not for His passion and power for us, how would we be the people that God wants us to be? It's time to humble ourselves, and allow the Lord to be Lord in our lives. To take the focus off the inward, and place it where it needs to be; Outward, towards the wonderful person of Jesus Christ. To stand in grace, is to stand in His love, and to receive all that He has to offer. Standing outside the box is dangerous, because as our Lord said: "Apart from Me, you can do nothing." (John 15:5)