Risky Service...

"So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me." ~ Philippians 2:29–30 

"Risky, self-sacrificing service to the church and to the world, in the name of Jesus Christ, belongs organically to Christian obedience. In his own words from The Cost of Discipleship: 'When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.' Not in pursuit of something for oneself. All things are ours already in Jesus. Not in order to make something of oneself. Our lives are hidden with Christ in God. Rather, in order to serve, in order to help others, in the name of Jesus Christ. Followers of Jesus are free for such service and such service belongs to and authenticates genuine witness to their crucified and risen Savior." - Mark Devine, Bonhoeffer Speaks Today: Following Jesus at All Costs

Every day provides an opportunity for fresh vision and a passion to make the kind of disciples who will "come and die" in order to help others, in the name of Jesus Christ. May our Chief Shepherd give you all that's needed to promote this "Risky, self-sacrificing service to His church".

~ PJVS

HIS FOCUS ...

“Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest." ~ John 4:35

The story is told about a coastal life-saving station that saved a great many lives every year. As time passed the station became famous and efforts were made to buy better equipment and build a bigger building. The volunteers continued to give much time and energy to improve the looks and quality of the station. It eventually became more beautiful than any other station with more volunteers than ever. With all the activity focused on the station itself, one thing ceased to happen; saving lives. They lost their focus.

Within this story we hear a gentle word of counsel from Jesus. His thoughts were moving in a very different direction than those of the disciples. They were responsible, reliable, and seriously caught up in the necessities of life. While there was nothing wrong with their concern for the Lord's welfare, their busyness in the small things blinded them from seeing the greater matters. They lost their focus.

It's easy for us to become so obsessive about small microscopic issues that we forget the greater matters and why we are called of God. Good pastors are determined to do church the right way and make it look and sound the very best for the Lord. In the process they often lose sight of the primary reason the church exists: to save souls. Please be careful in your drive to do the very best for Jesus my pastor friend, that you don't lose HIS focus... "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them..." (Matthew 9:36)

"If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for." – Charles Spurgeon

~ PJVS 

PARTNERSHIP ...

"So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me." - Philemon 17

Partners ride the trail together, run the business together and compete in the game together. They are on the same page, with the same goal. As Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up." A healthy partnership is a blessing for all seasons.

Paul had a partnership with Philemon and a growing partnership with Onesimus. Being a brother and spiritual father in the Lord is a great relationship. It is more than a moment in time or phase in life. We are partners in the work of the gospel for life and strong teamwork brings a good return for our work. A healthy partnership is a blessing for all seasons.

Who are your partners in the gospel today? Do you work alongside with a welcoming heart and supportive spirit? Do you draw strength from them as you provide them encouragement? Christian partners work together, even through the most difficult situations, because they are partners with the Lord. A healthy partnership is a blessing for all seasons.

~ PJVS

WALK WITH THE WISE ...

"

Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, 

but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered." ~ 

Proverbs 28:26

Over the years I have been blessed by a number of great preachers and teachers. Not all of them were formally educated, so they were referred to as "self-taught". Most of these were much more than "self-taught" since they steeped themselves in the wisdom of the ages. He who walks with the wise is wise.

Solomon warned that those who are satisfied with their own insight are foolish indeed. The limits of self focused knowledge are many and the depth of such a one is quite shallow. Whether one has formal degrees or not, they need to remain a student to make a difference in life. He who walks with the wise is wise.

What efforts are you making to add to your learning my friend? Who have you chosen to serve on your "faculty" of teachers? Have you remained a student of the Scriptures, no matter how many years have passed? Don't rest in what you already know, because there is so much more to learn. He who walks with the wise is wise.

~ PJVS

PASSING THE BATON ...

 "You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others." - 2 Timothy 2:1-2

During the Olympics we find a wide variety of competitive races. Most involve one athlete who will carry the whole race by themselves.  But the "relay" race depends on the involvement of many. At certain points in the race the next athlete picks up the cause until they pass it on to the next team member. The relay race is all about "passing the baton".

When Paul taught, mentored and wrote Timothy he was passing on the great truths of the gospel. He expected Timothy to do the same by entrusting these truths to reliable believers who would also pass them on to others. Gospel truths are not to be hoarded and kept as eternal trophies. They are intended to change our lives and be passed on to a new generation. We are expected to "pass the baton".

Every pastor has great gospel truths and ministry experience to pass on to others. The theme of the "Great Commission" is the heartbeat of this passage. We are to "make disciples", who will "make disciples", who will "make disciples". Future pastors will begin with Godly mentoring today. At Cornerstone Pastoral Mentoring Ministry we seek to mentor the next generation, as well as those who are currently in the trenches. Every Paul should have a Timothy ... Do you have someone to whom you are "passing the baton?"