Dear Disciple of Christ,
I’ve described, a number of times in the past, how I went from being a wandering sheep, a simple student with no plans or direction to a called disciple, seeking out pastoral ministry. Like Paul (and many other disciples), I had a “meeting with Jesus” (is that something like a “come to Jesus moment?), and I heard and felt the power of His Word. After being confirmed, my sister and I continued study of the Word in Senior High Bible study. I had no books or even booklets to describe how and why someone might consider becoming a pastor. Not one of my Sunday School teachers nor any members of the church threw out the idea to me that perhaps I might consider serving the Lord as one of His pastors. But I wasn’t as far away from serving as Saul was in fighting against God’s plans. (or any plan) that God might have in mind for him or me. Paul, knowing God’s plan for Timothy, reminds him (and all of us) of what God had been doing to prepare us for his service..
But as for you (Timothy), continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:14-17
Notice how important the Word was and how instrumental it would be for both Timothy and Saul (known soon as Paul). He had experienced a calling, a conversion from one way of living to a totally different, new Way. Instead of spending his life attacking Christians, he heard one Voice of the One who would be with him and direct him the rest of his life. Here is Saul’s call and his change in life.
1But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3Now as he journeyed he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed about him. 4And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting; 6but rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”
7The men who were travelling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8Saul arose from the ground; and when his eyes were opened, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
I guess we could describe this as one of the ways God can get someone’s attention. The plan that is described in Acts and in Paul’s writings to Timothy and other disciples, shows the depths of the plan in the mind and heart of God and in the voice of Jesus. And we hear of a growing group of witnesses who serve the Lord by sharing His will. So there is a man named Annanias who further describes God’s plan and Paul’s part in it. And we see him move from one opposing God’s plan to one willing to die for Him. So, servants of the Lord are sent again and again to reveal the plan God had in mind for and through Paul. God’s servants would be growing in faith as God called and sent them on a journey to call one more to the ranks of witnesses. With some fear and trembling, they simply but faithfully
But the Lord said to Annanias, “Go, for Saul is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16for I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”
17So Anani’as departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized, 19and took food and was strengthened. For several days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20And in the synagogues immediately he proclaimed Jesus, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21And all who heard him were amazed, and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called on this name? And he has come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests.” 22But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
Wow! Talk about a call…. Talk about a 180 degree turn around. It’s no wonder that anyone who missed that event (or hadn’t heard about it) would be hesitant to consider Paul a brother in Christ, a leader of the faith, a witness to the One who called him. But that dramatic and total change in Paul was what Christ does over and over again even today by His powerful Word.
My own call, meeting with Jesus, hearing Jesus happened that Sunday morning in the balcony of my church in Albany. As I went to High School Bible study in the balcony of our church, the pastor made a passing comment about science and God. It went something like this. “That’s the thing about science. You can’t mention ‘God’ since God can’t be proved.” Now I expect that sentence didn’t mean anything significant to anyone else but it was the moment when my future began to take form. “Hmmm,” I thought to myself, “that was pretty dumb. I had filled out the applications to colleges without considering what it was God might be calling me to do in life (and science might force me to leave Him out of the picture).” I’m not sure why the very first thought that came into my head, when I asked myself the question, “Well, what might He ask me to do?”, was that I could be a pastor. True, the pastor was standing in front of me and he was going on with the rest of the Bible study, but I can’t say it was because of that.
I then began to day dream (“dream dreams?” like the prophet Joel said old men would do) and picture what being a pastor might involve (young men have visions. It raised questions in my mind. What about earning an income (pastors don’t earn comparable incomes for their degree work)? (Answer: If I had a million dollars, what would I do with my life?) What about standing in front of people? (Answer: I had forced myself into debate club and was no longer nervous doing that). What about using my other gifts like in science? (Answer: Is that really what God was preparing me to do?) For each question, the Word came forward with an answer. All those years that I heard the Word, I was getting answers to questions I hadn’t asked yet. By the end of the class, it was clear in my mind where I was to go and what I was to do. I would use the last application to apply to a pre-theological school to study to become a pastor. Here I am some 60 years later, centering on the Word for life and preaching about our hope in Christ.
The point of my story is that I truly believe that God’s Word is inspired and profitable and crucial if we are to know His will. It is “a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119:105). That is what the value is of the daily reflection on the Word. We never know when the challenges in life will come and whether it will be personal or with family or spouse or life or death but there will be challenges that only the Word can confront and guide us through. “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). It will cut to the center of our hearts and show us our intentions and our trust in the Lord and the way He would have us go.
1) Has the Word ever directly guided your actions in life? Should it?
2) Do you know the Word well enough for it to be a lamp and light in your life?
3) How will you know it better?
I pray that the Word is a lamp and light for each of us always.
In Him,
Pastor Johnson