I was drinking a cup of coffee alongside
Cathy at a wedding reception where I had officiated the ceremony.
A man came up to me with his hand
extended to tell me just how much he appreciated what I had said at the
ceremony.
He had been one of so many who came
up to me at the reception that night to talk to me and tell me their thoughts on
what I had said. The Lord used him and many others to remind me of what I was
called to do.
“Keep preaching” he said to me,
“Don’t ever stop”.
I flashed back to when I first heard
the call. The year was 1986; the place was St. Paul, Minnesota. I was getting
ready to leave the Sunday morning church service and I heard it: THE CALL TO
PREACH.
No, not audibly, but deep in my
spirit.
That was over thirty three years
ago. I hadn’t yet been ordained or attended Bible school or seminary. I had no
idea how to get there or what to do.
But there it was; for me to respond
to. And I said; “YES”
And the Lord was faithful to get me
“there” and has continued, on my best and worst days, to keep me “there”…the
calling to preach.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old
things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now
all things are of
God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that
is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing
their trespasses to them, and has
committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through
us: we implore you on
Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He
made Him who knew no sin to be sin
for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2
Corinthians 5:17-21)
A friend of mine wrote the
following. He continues to also be reminded what both of are called to do;
PREACH!
No matter what
else I do...I'm a preacher.
Preaching is my
joy, my agony, my passion, and my pleasure.
To preach is to
be a messenger of goodness especially in the angry face of evil.
To be an angelic
voice of possibilities, even in the noise demonic cynicism.
The best
preaching puts a warrant in the air of possibilities yet unrealized.
So, I'm a lifer;
until no air is left in my lungs and no vocal chords to resonate, I will
remain... a preacher.
Written by and
used with permission from Pastor Randy Dean
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