READING: 2 Kings 18-19, 2 Chronicles 32, Psalm 67, 1 Corinthians 9
I’m incredibly blessed to do what I do. God and His people have been so gracious to me, and I’m privileged to do some things I just love to do. I love teaching, and my heart still beats faster as I make my way to the classroom 25 years after I first started teaching. I find deep, abiding joy in training missionaries; in fact, my wife and I would love some day to spend our lives simply loving and shepherding cross-cultural workers around the world. I really enjoy writing, and I trust that God occasionally uses something I’ve written to help someone walk more closely with Him.
Above everything else, though, I love to preach. God called me to preach His Word more than 45 years ago, and I’ve never been able to ignore that calling—even when ministry was hard and I wanted to let it go. No matter how difficult the work might be, something just happens in my heart when I stand to explain, illustrate, and apply biblical teachings. No other vocational role in my life brings as much joy and fulfillment (though, the combination of all the roles I get to do is pretty sweet, too . . .).
So, Paul’s words in today’s reading speak to me and for me. He preached not because of some boastful spirit in him, but because God compelled him to do it. He was God’s chosen instrument. Indeed, his calling was so compelling that he knew judgment awaited him if he did not preach. I suspect that most God-called preachers understand that point.
PRAYER: “God, thank You for the privilege of preaching Your Word. Guard me from boasting about the task.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Isaiah 36-37, Psalm 123, 1 Corinthians 10
