“GROWING IN GRACE”

"GROWING IN GRACE"

Monday, March 14th, 2022

SCRIPTURE:

13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. – Proverbs 4:13

(read the entire Psalm if you can)

THOUGHTS TO PONDER:

I had heard the call to full time Christian ministry. Jill and I had sold our house, sold our second car, and moved in with my mom after dad passed to save money for seminary. I had gone to Divinity School for three years for a master’s degree. I had served for another three years as a pastor in a local church. And I had just completed close to 100 pages of written work, read countless books, studied for hours on end, and the words the Board of Ordained Ministry shared with me shortly thereafter, were words I would then wrestle with for the next 12 months until having to go before the final boards a second time. “Mark you’ve still got some growing to do, and we’re going to ask you to come back again next year.”

That day I was told that I didn’t pass the boards for ordination, I was frustrated, heart-broken, and upset. So, over the course of the next 12 months, I studied like you wouldn’t believe. I went to preaching seminars. I read books that I normally wouldn’t read. I visited other churches. I had leadership coaches, pastoral mentors, prayer partners, and spiritual directors. I led more bible studies, audio recorded and video-taped my sermons. And I personally met with persons on the board of ordained ministry. Since then, I’ve learned that I need such connections even now, after being in ministry for over twenty years.

I also found out that it wasn’t out of the norm to be deferred your first time going before the boards, and that actually HALF of the candidates that were going through that year were also deferred another year. Over the course of that next year, I would learn to own a phrase that a good friend told me. He said this, “Mark our Spiritual Formation isn’t a DESTINATION, but it’s a JOURNEY.” I’ll say that again, “our Spiritual Formation isn’t a DESTINATION, it’s a life-long JOURNEY.” So, whether we are new to the faith, or have been called to ministry and have been serving God for most of our lives, be reminded and encouraged in knowing that “Our Spiritual Formation isn’t a DESTINATION, but it’s a life-long JOURNEY…”

FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:

As clergy, we are encouraged to grow in wisdom and grace. Our entire life is a journey towards growing in the likeness of Christ. As we encourage our congregants to grow in grace, we too are to open ourselves up to the work of the Holy Spirit in and through us. We call that sanctification.

This Lenten season, humbly ask the Lord where your growth areas are. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you and direct your steps in growing in wisdom and in God’s grace. Pray that God would give you a teachable spirit, a willingness to learn, and an attitude of thanks as you sit at the feet of Jesus and other long-time Christ followers whose faith and walk with Jesus you admire. Consider what books you are reading, how you are spending your time, what you are financially investing in, who are your teachers and mentors? And intentionally invite the Holy Spirit to continue its transforming work in your own life.

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, thank you for the awesome privilege of serving You. Thank you, Lord, for trusting me enough to share Your Word and Your great love with others. Open my ears that I may hear, my eyes that I may see, and my heart that I may have a teachable spirit and a willingness to learn and to grow in wisdom and grace. O God, reveal to me what You would have me to learn. Show me the specific areas of my life where i need to grow in Your grace. Provide me with the resources, courage, and perseverance to grow. Continue to transform my life today and every single day of my life. And may I always remember that my own spiritual formation is not a destination, but a lifelong journey of walking with You O Lord. As You have called me to lead others, I ask of You O Lord to teach me Your ways. Transform my mind. Transform my heart. Transform my will into Thy will, and be glorified in and through the ministry You’ve called me to.I offer this prayer in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. – Amen

RESOURCE & APPLICATION:

As the Lord reveals to you those growth areas in your life, consider going by the library or sifting back through your own personal library of books and resources. Intentionally make connections with an elder in the faith whom you admire and respect. Meet together in person if you’re able and ask them about their own journey of faith. Journal your discoveries and give God thanks for what he is teaching you and how God has provided you with the resources to grow in God’s grace.