If I Were CalledWritten by Joyce C. Lock
If I were called to teach, I'd give it my best. If I were called to preach, I'd better pass test. If I were called to reach, I'd do it with much zest. If I were called to each, I'd surely need some rest. Mt. 11:29b ~*~ We, often, hold high expectations for our spiritual leaders (as does God) to teach, minister, give guidance and direction, to be example, live what they preach, and to be available, willing, and able to meet our need. We truly are blessed when we have such a person in our life. However, were we to multiply our need by entire membership of our church, we would see that our expectation is somewhere between unrealistic and nearly impossible. Leadership often finds themselves between a rock and a hard place as, even for most devoted of servants, there aren't enough hours in a day.
| | God is Not MockedWritten by Joyce C. Lock
Ga. 6:1, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in SPIRIT of MEEKNESS, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." How many times have we had urge to Lord it over someone fallen; to look at them in disgust, to shun their very presence, to talk behind their back, to refuse their service, to forget all good they've done, to spit in their face and kick them when their down? Those who receive people in meekness have learned a very special lesson. In right place, at right time, under right circumstance - there is no sin we couldn't be tempted with. Only by grace of God that it isn't me. Where did we get idea it couldn't happen to us? Don't we dare think ourselves any better (Ga. 6:3)! If we weren't abandoned on a door step, raised in an orphanage or maybe even ghettos; if we were raised with God fearing, loving, non-abusive parents who saw to it that we had best education money could buy; if we've risen to places of prestige, prosperity, power, respect, and position ... how can we think we had something to do with it? Sometimes, we forget where we came from and who brought us where we are (Ez. 16:21,22). If you ever find yourself in such a place - BEWARE, BEWARE, BEWARE!
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