The service to my country began in 1976 and involved three and a half years in active duty with the US Army, and continues to this day as a teacher, minister of the Gospel and writer. I took an oath the date I entered the military to protect and defend the constitution of the US, and I took an oath the day I was ordained as a minister of the Gospel, protect and defend the gospel that has been entrusted to me– to advance a heavenly country. Those years between my military service and my vocational Christian service were filled with marriage, children, college and graduate school, and yet, nothing in my life of 60 some years has lessened my commitment to the gospel, or that heavenly City of God, as Augustine calls it.
Now, there’s a tendency to look at our Christianity as valuable only on the tiers that we think apply to us–
Let’s see, there is the salvation tier– and once I clear that hurdle, have my sins forgiven, a reservation made for my heavenly mansion, and my millennial bus ticket punched, I can get back to the business of living. Those other tiers study, discipleship, discipline, and service, to my local church are there for those other people……
But is that what the Apostle Paul expects out of his protege, Timothy? Is that all that God expects out of us?
HERE’S A THOUGHT– THE JOY OF SERVING THE GOD YOU BELIEVE –IS TRANSFORMATIONAL.
Notice Paul’s contentment– I know whom I have believed — and am persuaded.
The knowledge is not born out of experience but out of a connection with the person of God. It has the force of a nail being secured by its attachment to a stronger board behind it. It suggests a present satisfaction because of a settled condition. Charles Wuest says that it renders the individual in a immovable position.
And it shows itself in 3 very important tasks that admittedly connected to the Apostle but equally necessary for you–
He says that he is preacher (herald), an Apostle (ambassador), and a teacher. I think we know what that meant for him; what exactly does that have to do with us?
Try this on–
Each and every one of us are called to build something that stands the test of time;
each of us are called to say something that strengthens the heart of another;
Each of us are called to teach something that grows God’s kingdom
Trans–
Building something that stands the test of time— that’s what apostles do–At it’s core, they were foundational people, who laid the groundwork for the church to gain its footing. They’re all gone but the need for builders continue. That’s what Timothy was doing in Ephesus and that’s what we require here.
Saying something that strengthens the heart of another— that’s what heralds do. They speak the truth about the Gospel and the person of God, His Impeccable Son, and God’s Holy Spirit. By the way, that’s the essence of Paul’s quip; I know whom I have believed– it’s not the word for knowing by experience; rather the word for doing to a settled knowledge of who God is…
Teaching something that grows God’s kingdom— that’s what faithful masters of the truth do– they faithfully pass on what has been passed on to them.
And in one way or another, we all have a responsibility to see that it gets done.
Check out two passages in the second Corinthian letter: 1 Cor.3:10-15; 2 Cor..5:9-11
1 Corinthians 3:10-15
According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
2 Corinthians 5:9-11
Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.
And there is Chris– one the young men graduated out of our church; trained as a youth pastor at Moody Bible Institute , and was called to a good church in Washington State. Which he served until one day, the urge was just too strong. He loved drain fields, plugged toilets got his blood warm, and a properly draining sewer line was the stuff of dreams for him. And this choice servant of God stepped back from the vocational ministry he had enjoyed for years, stayed in the church he had been serving in, and continues to plumb up his little corner of Washington while he continues to work with the young people of his church.
Because:
Each and every one of us are called to build something that stands the test of time;
each of us are called to say something that strengthens the heart of another;
Each of us are called to teach something that grows God’s kingdom
And– you as well.
MJC
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