2 Timothy 3:14-4:5, Luke 18:1-8
I’m starting today with a couple of stories which have come from Hospital Chaplains.
“Lucy”
A lady I will call “Lucy”desperately wanted to meet with the Chaplain, and great was the meeting! It seemed as though she had “bottled up” a lot of “stuff”, then in her hour of self-destruction and hours of “no recall” and experiences in-between, Lucy’s life was heading for a sudden ending. Not even her family wanted to know her, in fact, she hardly even knew her family!! She was admitted to the Unit for treatment.
After several days of normality, Lucy did some hard thinking about life, about her “losses”, family, support systems, employment – everything seemed to be a loss to her. She recalled at some stage that she knew “God”, that God used to be worshipped on a fairly regular basis, but God was eventually pushed out of her life. Lucy heard about the Chaplain, she made a booking to see him. At the end of the hour, Lucy was a transformed lady, her face shone, tears of remorse and heartache were flowing into healing “showers of blessings“. Lucy couldn’t keep it to herself, all of the Unit were hearing about it.
After a few more days, Lucy went back down south. She phoned me a week later telling me how much strength she has gained, both physical and spiritual, even her mother speaking on the phone to the Chaplain about her wonderful transformation. And to this day, it is continuing. Hallelujah!!“God’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save, neither is His ear blocked that it cannot hear” – Isaiah 59:1.
“Aaron”
I arrived at the ward in time for their 9am Community Meeting. A young man (mid 20’s) sprawled himself on the couch complaining of a bad couple of nights. One or two others were laughing at him, but kindly reminding him he will improve over the next day or so. When I introduced myself to the group, he didn’t appear to show too much approval of me being there.
As usual for those who would like to see me, time is made available. This young man quietly said to me – I think I need you more than anyone else!
A local lad but living in Australia for a few years, things were really great for him until things went all wrong. A good job, a great relationship with a young son. But his secret life was wrecking his life and career. He lost his job, his partner told him to go and he returned home to Mum and Dad. They took him in, but with conditions. Get your act sorted out, get treatment and then we will talk and work things out with you. He met a “beautiful” young lady close by – its always amazing how “love” seems to attract each other, but this young lady was a Christian and regular committed Church goer. She also told him that if there would be any connection between them, he would have to “change his way of life”! He began attending Church but it all seemed so strange to him.
I shared my faith with him, we talked. I offered him a Radio Rhema Devotional book “The Word for Today”, and he looked straight at me saying: How did the writer of this book get my approval to write about me without me knowing? Of course, the writer didn’t know him, but in the economy of God, that day, and that devotional writing was a perfect fit for the young man.
God had opened his eyes in my presence, his sobering up seemed to have an even better effect as we prayed together and I sought God’s blessing upon his life. God’s timing is perfect – Hallelujah!
So?
Here’s what I want to say to you today: any of us could do what that chaplain did. How do I know? God is in us and God is as capable of working through you as he is through me or anyone in whom he is living. Yes, we can make it easier or harder for him to work through us but work he will and all the more when we ask him to.
Let’s keep our two Bible passages in mind as we go on. Let me summarise them.
2 Timothy 3:14-4:5. Paul coaching Timothy says, “Continue in what you have learned and firmly believed … all scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. Proclaim the message … do the work (of an evangelist).” Get to know God’s Word, the Bible, experience it in your life and share it with others. It’s better to know a few passages well and be confident with them than sort of know a whole lot of Bible in an uncertain way.
And pray. Luke 18:1-8. The persistent widow and the unjust judge: “Will not God grant justice?” “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” We don’t have to wear God out with our pleading, he’s ready to act. Trust him.
Every Christian a minister
Today is Laity Sunday in the United Methodist Church (USA). When I was a Methodist we had Lay Preachers’ Sunday once a year which was my chance to take a service. That’s where I got started. Laity Sunday gives others a chance to do things usually clergy do. Actually, I don’t like the clergy-lay distinction at all. In my book every Sunday is Laity Sunday and indeed every day is for all Christians to minister in Jesus’ name and in Jesus’ strength. My role is that of equipper – a practiced minister, helping and encouraging people to do similar things for others.
Yes, I’ve done some training. My training is in theology and pastoral care, in preaching and in leadership. There is a tendency in human societies to give work to those with training – let the expert do it. That’s true for Christian ministry up to a point – competence is a good thing. But there is nothing in Christian ministry that is restricted to certain people. The trained ones are trained not only to do the job but to train others to do it too. But, beyond that, God is able to work through any available person, trained or not, and accomplish whatever he chooses. God is interested not much in our ability and very much in our availability. In Jesus we can seem to accomplish things we never thought we could because it is Jesus working through us.
Here in St. Margaret’s we are reintroducing Elders’ Districts which means that each of our four elders has pastoral care of a quarter of the congregation. It means that, as well as me popping in to see you from time to time to see how you’re going, one of the Elders will visit as well. Why are we doing this? It is so that the pastoral load is spread. I can’t do it all. It is so that people get practise at ministering to others, starting with the elders and spreading out. Out of this we all get to develop in discipleship. This is what Jesus wants for his followers.
Beatitudes for those who care…
It has to be admitted that ministry is often hard work. Caring for people can take it out of us. It can cost us time. It can drain our energy – mental energy, emotional energy, physical energy. It can cost us money and things. But God compensates us for what we give. God is never in our debt – never owes us. He provides the resources we need and he blesses us.
Here are beatitudes for those who care:
Blessed are you who listen to others,
especially those with constant complaints.
Blessed are you who see the hurts of others,
especially those overlooked by friends and family.
Blessed are you who speak kindly to others,
especially those plagued by fear or anger.
Blessed are you who touch others gently,
especially those bruised by violence, addictions or insensitivity.
Blessed are you who think prayerfully of others,
especially those alone and discouraged.
Blessed are you who show love to others,
especially those with chronic or mental illness.
Blessed are you who persevere in your calling,
with compassion and love for all people
for you possess the healing presence of Christ.
Meeting God changes us.
Let me encourage you to read your Bible and pray. Talk to God about everything in your life, including the people.
And let me encourage you to record your thoughts that come in response to your reading, including what God says to you.
Then make yourself available to share what you learn with your friends and to pray for them.