June 2007

06.17.2007

ne Parson’s Opinion

Years ago, before I went to seminary, I was pastoring the North End Mission in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. That would be the summer of 1975. I told the pastor of the mother church (Jack Smith) that, while in seminary, I sure would love to be on staff with a good, competent pastor. I felt I could learn a lot under his tutelage.

Jack’s response took me aback. He said, “Jim, you can learn a lot even from a bad pastor.” He was right, of course. I just hadn’t looked at life that way.

I am sure you are much more mature than I was and already know you can learn about life from every circumstance, situation or personality God brings into your life.

It is true! We can learn from our own experiences. We can learn from others’ choices in life also.

I Corinthians 10:6 says it this way about the stories in the Old Testament: “Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.”

From the examples in your life, are you learning, growing and maturing in your walk with the Lord Jesus? Romans 8:21 tells us we are being conformed to the image of Jesus. My point is simply that the experiences in our lives and what we see around us are designed by God to be used to make us like Jesus. If we don’t take notes and learn, then we find ourselves in “familiar circumstances” because we didn’t learn the first time.

Let me encourage you to take note right now of the pressures in your life and learn what God is teaching you through them. He designed your pressures uniquely for you. Let me give you a helpful hint. One of the main reasons you are going through whatever you are going through presently is to learn to trust the Lord.

How are you doing? You think about that!

See you on the Lord’s Day,

Jim

Posted by arbc at 10:53 PM