garychester.org 6/11/09
I've found that during my own one-on-one discipleships of a few men over the years, more of them have slipped off track than have stayed the course. It doesn’t seem like much of a track record for my ministry. I would, of course, prefer more impressive results. I guess that's not my call. That call belongs to God.
But since God calls me to this mission field in the Kentucky community where I live, I joyfully press on for the most part - hopefully in the power of the Holy Spirit (Phil 3:10-14).
It is not usually a lonely calling. I have a few deep-spirited friends who God also has appointed in the same way. We encourage and build up one another (1 Thess. 5:11). These men help me keep my chin up, when my spirits periodically droop.
I can be just an impulse from dropping into a little bit of a funk, especially if there's been a little dust-up between my wife and me, or an extra challenging time at work.
In recent days, as my spirits have faltered, I've gone to visit my friend, Marty. Seeing Marty is a way for me to get my mind off myself and observe what God is doing.
Marty stayed in our home for awhile when he had nowhere else to go. Back then Smirnoff and Miller, along with some weed, were his strategies to cope with life. But a big day of God eventually came to Marty's life. At that time, he rejected his own agenda in exchange for that of Christ.
Now he's gladly soaking up the Lord's good, perfect and pleasing will (Rom 12:1-2). Marty is a long way from "having arrived". He's searching for a job and is practically penniless, but because of the transformation in his heart, my own heart is warmed whenever I see him. And I'm encouraged enough to stay in the race.
Comments