“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, ’Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’”
For several reasons, I have been reminded of these verses in the past months. Being a minister is a great honor and privilege, yet at the same time, it is frightening. Though it is God who does the true caring for people’s souls, y’all as a church body here at Centennial have called me to tend the flock through the preaching of God’s Word, the administration of the Sacraments, and the general and specific spiritual care that comes from both. There is a true spiritual weight to the expectations God’s people should have on their ministers. But I would like to tell y’all something: I’m a nobody.
I am not a powerful man by any means (1 Cor. 1:26). I am not even old enough to be powerful! My attributes of foolishness and weakness will reveal themselves if they have not already (1:27). The world laughs at me. It’s the age-old joke, right? What does a minister even do (1:28)? I say all this for one reason. I am human, and no human being has the right to boast before God (1:29). The whole of my goal in ordained ministry is to serve y’all in proclaiming Jesus Christ as savior of our souls (1:30).
So here is why I have been thinking of this text. So many people have asked me if the “honeymoon phase” has worn off yet at Centennial. I think those people are trying to ask if y’all have told me about my weaknesses (or become annoyed by them). I tell them the same thing every time. “Honeymoon phase” is not the right way to put it. Centennial ARP Church is a congregation of believers of Jesus Christ seeking to serve Him in knowledge and action. They are gracious in their dealing with me because of this! They know my weaknesses because I’m human like them. I’m a nobody apart from Jesus Christ!
It’s in this light that I recognize not only the sweetness of our fellowship but my need for it as I seek to serve. Here are some ways y’all can help me in my service unto Centennial, and it all has to do with communication:
- If you feel like I don’t know something, in all likelihood I don’t! Things fall through the cracks all the time, and I don’t want that. But I need y’all’s help.
- If I’m frustrating you in some way (be it minor or major), please talk with me about it! My prayer is that one of two things is happening. Either I’m doing something accidentally or there is a misunderstanding in why I’m doing it.
- If I’m failing in some way (be it minor or major), please talk with me about it! Again, my prayer is that my failure is either not before my face or that there is a misunderstanding.
The bottom line is this: my desire is to serve y’all as best as possible. These last few weeks have been busy in a good way, filled with God-glorifying ministry to the people at Centennial, and done by a sinful man. We’re all in the same boat looking to Jesus, and my goal is to serve y’all as best I can while we float. Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord!
Blessings,
Jeremiah