Our Worth. His Worthiness

Another interesting statement was made Sunday night during our gathering. Essentially, the statement made was "You started with more when you were in the position I'm in now, than what I'm starting with."

Isn't that just like us? I wasn't one the one who made the statement, but don't think for a minute, that I haven't said the same thing myself, Probably fairly recently.

It's easy enough to do, actually.

Comparison catches us off guard, as if all experiences and environments are the same.
And if one of us isn't "keeping pace", then we consider it a handicap... as though we are on the golf range.
I need a margin of error to level the playing field. Yeah... if only real life worked like that.

Pastors experience this problem just as much. Church growth and attendance. Building programs. Ministry effectiveness in the community. The trend of "multiple campuses". Leadership and positions of influence that are recognized outside the 4 walls of where they pastor. And so many more factors, for all pastors....kids, youth, worship, outreach, college.

The truth is, man was formed from the dust of the earth, from the palm of God's hand. He breathed LIFE into His creation. Who we are, what we are capable of and the plans and purposes we were designed to live out were established by God. He is worthy of all that we are able to give, because of who He is. An item or object does not value itself. It is valued by it's Creator. It is valued by the one interested in purchasing it.

We were created by God.
We were bought with a price... the life of God's Son.

We were worth creating. We were worth redeeming. We are worth God's continual pursuit of His creation.

I can't remember who said it, but I love the line, God doesn't call the qualified; He qualifies the called.

If anyone should have been passed over by God, it was Paul. An expert in denouncing God and destroying His creation. Yet God saw His worth. If those abilities, knowledge, influence, and status could be used to honor and glorify God what would happen for the cause of Jesus Christ? And in the sovereignty of God, a way was made that got Paul's attention. Fortunately for Paul, he responded as we all should. God is worthy. I am not. But God establishes people where He wants and needs them, whereby, regardless of where one is, they have worth.

Sinner, saint. Pastor, parishioner.

On this #associatePastorTuesday, pray for pastors struggling in their worth and the temptation to compare. May their eyes remain focused on who they are in Christ and the ministry to which they have been called in the community in which they have been placed. May they not feel as though they are inferior or playing church with a handicap, but that God would use them were they are planted. Pray against the spirit of discouragement and defeat that would attempt to take them out and take them down from their place of ministry in an attempt to strip them of their calling. May the power of the Holy Spirit lift them up, strengthen their hearts and minds and fortify their focus.

To Him who is Worthy... all glory and honor to God. For the health of the body of the Christ.

- PNC

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