What's the point?

I concluded my message series Mission Impossible based on the Great Commission and four key points Jesus communicated to every follower of his, as you go, make disciples, baptize and teach. With a “preacher’s license” I reorganized the order. It was really just the last two as I had the honor of baptizing two men as part of the service. One thing struck me as I completed the rental form for the Assembly. There are four blanks at the bottom of the page. They are:

       It is our hope that your stay with us was both meaningful and enjoyable.  Please provide the following information.

      1.  Number of Professions of Faith ________             2.  Number of Commitment Decisions _______

       3.  Number of Rededications _____________            4.  Other ______________________________

Well, no place for baptism so I used other. We use the pool in the summer and an inflatable pool in the cooler times of the year.

I must admit I am human, just ask my wife! I like to see results for my labor. Goals met for my investment strategy and lately I have not seen too much for my investment. Please key in on the personal pronoun “I” in that statement. “I” is what gets most of us in trouble. So my question is “what’s the point?” Have you said that, wrote that, thought that? Be honest you have and not just about faith and “spiritual” things.

But, I’m the preacher and not supposed to think those things or at least say them out loud. So, being a preacher I had not said them out loud. I had thought about them though, in fact, way too much. You know how that goes. My heavenly Father knew that as well, so two weeks ago from out of the blue one of our attendees with a colorful past came to me following the service and said “I want to be baptized.” I was surprised, caught off guard and so we talked. His story was of God at work in his life as he ran away, God at work when he did all the wrong things in the wrong ways with the wrong people. His story is of grace and peace as he faced difficult punishment. His story of giving up and in to the grace God was offering him. His story is of his grown daughter and her family there to witness his baptism and his responsibility to live in honor of Jesus for them.

Well, I did not know all of this then but as I drove home that day it struck me that I would baptize two men one in his 40’s and one in his 50’s. Now you don’t baptize women of those ages much and men well that is virtually unheard of. I was struck by that as I drove home.  It was then when I knew what the point was. Those two men and the countless like them are the point. God has not given up on them. That’s the point. He has called me to be faithful to Him and His purposes and nothing more or less. It’s hard work being faithful. There are so many distractions to call your attention away. Faithfulness is the point.

In an article titled You don't have to be a celebrity pastor to have influence. Eugene Cho writes to pastors but it applies to any follower of Jesus who asks “what’s the point?”

Hear this well:

You don't have to be "the most influential" in the nation. Just seek to be the most influential and loving pastor and leader to the church you're called to. That will not likely get you on any special lists but you'll serve your people well. You'll be faithful to your flock and calling.

The rest of this article can be found at http://www.catalystspace.com/content/read/you_dont_have_to_be_a_celebrity_pastor_to_have_influence/

My Father has been faithful and he asks me to be faithful as well.

He is my example.

I can play follow the leader.

The question we must answer is “will I?”

Happy Father’s day!       

In HIS Service and Yours,

The Rev