Jump Start # 3861
2 Timothy 4: 2 “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.”
NOTE: Tomorrow is a holiday, so there will be no Jump Start posted.
In the book, Words Aptly Spoken, I came across “A Preacher’s Prayer.” It says:
“O God…don’t let the pulpit call me to the sermon…
Let the sermon call me to the pulpit.
Before I break the bread of life, Lord, break me!
Wash from heart and lip the iniquity there…
God…strip me of all pride…
all cleverness…
all showmanship…
and salesmanship.
Deliver me from reliance on suaveness,
education, academics,
personality, notes, canned quips and celestial cliches.
Let me speak with humility of Moses,
the patience of Job,
the wisdom of Paul,
the power of Peter,
and the authority of Christ.
Lord, make my preaching clear, not clever;
passionate, not pitiful;
urgent, not ‘usual’;
meaty, not murky.
May it comfort the disturbed,
disturb the comfortable,
warn the sinner,
mature the saint,
give hope to the discouraged
and ready for Heaven the whole audience.”
And, the way this is accomplished is simply by, “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.” God bless our soldiers of the cross who week in and week out pour their hearts out to a dying world, preaching the simple message of Jesus Christ. It is not fame nor fortune that drive these brave men of God. It is a love for the Lord and a desire for all to be saved.
These preachers of the gospel could make more had they turned their attention to the world of business. But, their hearts were set upon the kingdom of Christ. They have sacrificed without complaint. They have served often without attention or notice. Their joy is to honor the Savior that they follow.
As soon as Sunday services end, the minds of these preachers are turning to next week. Another sermon to be written and how best to present it. While on vacation, their minds are on Sunday when they return home. Yet, another sermon awaits them. Hours upon hours are spent doing research, checking facts and making sure that it is as perfect as they can make it.
Few understand the heart of a preacher other than a fellow preacher. Even his family can’t really grasp what he is always thinking about. He longs for the best because he knows the Lord gave His best. Often discouraged, misunderstood and the focal point of criticism, the preacher labors on, filling hearts with the sweet message of the Gospel. His retirement is meager. He will never have what others, even those in the congregation have, but his journey is without complaint. This is the life that he has chosen and he would do it all the same if he could.
He is a preacher. And, his heart is preaching.
Roger