Monday’s Ministry Encouragement: Written to encourage you, my friend in ministry, to be refreshed and renewed as we live for Christ and look toward the Bema.
It’s time to celebrate the 66th Anniversary of the church where you are serving. You and others have spent considerable time planning. Music is prepared, the service order set, song lyric slides are sent, the sermon is ready, and the fellowship meal lurks around the corner. The day is here!
Then, Anniversary Sunday morning you receive a text—“Pastor, ___________ woke up sick this morning and cannot play the piano.”
Congregational songs, choir ministry, and other music ministry is affected. Changes must be made.
Is it the end of the world?
Will it be a good service?
So, what happened?
Scripture passages were read, hymns and songs were sung with gusto and thought, testimonies of God’s working were shared, the choir sang a different song, past history of the church was reviewed, praise was given to God for His bountiful blessings, and best of all, the Word of God was pointedly, powerfully, and practically preached. Christ was exalted and the saints were edified, challenged and convicted to move forward for the gospel’s sake!
The encouragement for today is this:
- No matter what was planned for your service/gathering yesterday, if it went well in any way, it was only by the grace of God (2 Corinthians 9:8).
- Furthermore, for us to say “it went well” is only at best judged by our human standards. God many times works in ways that do not seem successful to us (1 Cor. 1:27).
- God alone deserves all the glory. A day like we had yesterday is a blessing as it helps remind us that the focus and dependence is always to be upon Him (John 15:5).
- Since the Word was proclaimed, rejoice! The power to change lives is in the Word, the gospel! The results may not be seen right away, but the Word never stops working!! (Isaiah 55:11; 2 Timothy 3:16; 4:2; Hebrews 4:12)
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. (Proverbs 19:21)
It’s Monday! Get on your knees, get some rest, and “get back into the game” as you join God in His work only for His glory!! It’s all His work anyway!
From A Pastor's Heart 