The Messenger
Our Weekly Bulletin
Our Weekly Bulletin
Standing before the congregation, he began to present the sermon he had prepared. He was clearly uncomfortable as preaching was not his forte, he was merely helping out. Rarely did he wear a tie or sport coat. He looked down at his hands, which were cracked and calloused from work. Some dirt could be seen under the tips of his fingernails, he dug into his pocket and pulled out a pocketknife, with which he began to clean under his fingernails. His wife, sitting among members of the congregation was mortified at what he was doing. Without missing a beat, he kept on preaching. The sermon presented that day was from the heart and no doubt touched the hearts of many of those who heard his words. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.” (II Timothy 2:15) The man in the real-life example noted above, expressed he was embarrassed and apologized to all who spoke to him afterward that he was a “simple man who works with my hands”. No apology was necessary, he spoke truth from God’s word. Far and away too many in the Lord’s church find excuse after excuse for not stepping forward and embracing the task at hand.
Could it be said of the apostles that they were viewed as being “accomplished”? One was a tax collector, another described as a zealot and the remainder for the most part were fishermen. However, none of that mattered in the final analysis. Paul labored as a tentmaker when the need arose. He even went so far as to say in 1Corinthians chapter two that he did not have superiority of speech, and that when he was with them it was “in weakness and in fear and in much trembling.” What these men had was a burning desire to spread the message of the gospel. Perhaps best summed up by Paul in 1Corinthians 9:16. “For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.” How many times have we sung the hymn “I Want to Be A Worker For The Lord”? The next time we sing it, consider carefully the lyrics and what we are professing. There are many facets of work within the kingdom of Christ. All of which is “for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:12) In Romans, chapter twelve, Paul lays out a beautiful portrait of one in service to the cause of Christ. Take some time and read over verses four through fifteen notice the various tasks of service one can embrace. As a workman, never be ashamed in the noble task of service. -Selected God Bless -Todd
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