August 26, 2009
-
the minister's examination: "Who is my master?"
From Richard Baxter's "The Reformed Pastor" (Abridged edition, Multnomah Press: 1982, 13):
Ministerial work must be done purely for God and for the salvation of His people. It can never be done for any private gain of our own. A wrong motive that aims at a wrong goal may well spoil the whole ministry, however good it may be in itself. For then it is not serving God, but ourselves.Self-interest is a bad trade to choose. Thus self-denial is absolutely necessary for every Christian. But it is doubly necessary for a minister of the Gospel, because he has to have a double dedication and sanctification to God. Without self-denial he cannot serve God even for one hour.
Who is my master?
Really? Who is my master?
Jesus told us that
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
–Matthew 6:24No man. No exceptions.
Have I turned to Him with only half a heart like treacherous Judah? Is my ministry really a pretense? Is my life really a pretense? (Jeremiah 3:10)
When I minister with one eye on heaven and one eye on earth, I am serving my own self-interests.
Who is my master?When I minister with one eye on heaven and one eye on earth, I am not serving Him.
Who is my master?When I minister for my own self-interests, I have deposed Him as my master.
Who is my master?When I minister for my own self-interests, I have made myself my master.
Who is my master?When I minister for my own self-interests, I love myself.
Who is my master?When I minister for my own self-interests, I hate Him.
Who is my master?When I minister for my own self-interests, I despise Him.
Who is my master?When I minister with my heart set on my own lusts, I am not serving Him but my own lusts.
Who is my master?When I minister with less than a whole heart, I am not serving Him.
Who is my master?Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
–John 12:24-26Woe is me. I am undone!
Holy Father, So often I forget You will never fail to feed me the finest of wheat and honey from the rock. I confess there are times I seek more than You. I become tangled up in my own self-interests. I forget that any food worth eating comes from Your hand alone. Forgive me as I seek my own self-interests time and again. As I labor for You, I know You will feed me with all I need. You certainly have never muzzled me but have allowed me to enjoy completely the fruit of my labor in You. Let me not hinder the Gospel of Christ by my own self-seeking but trust You to be my perfect and all-sufficient portion. If I have You, what more do I need?
Holy Jesus, spotless Lamb, my Sanctifier, You died for me to make me holy. I have died and been raised with You. Strengthen me to live like it. Help me to reckon myself dead to sin but alive to You. Send Your Holy Spirit to me. Holy Spirit, send Your refining and renewing fire to me to make me perfect and holy as my Father in heaven in holy. Purify me, cleanse me thoroughly and reform my heart, so I might have my affections set on heavenly things and have no other gods but the one true God, that I might no longer try to serve God and mammon, that I might no longer try to serve God and my own self-interests.
Holy Jesus, spotless Lamb, my Sanctifier, You died for me to make me holy. I have died and been raised with You. Strengthen me to live like it. Help me to reckon myself dead to sin but alive to You. Send Your Holy Spirit to me. Holy Spirit, send Your refining and renewing fire to me to make me perfect and holy as my Father in heaven is holy. Purify me, cleanse me thoroughly and reform my mind, so I might have my mind set on heavenly things and have no other gods but the one true God, that I might no longer try to serve God and mammon, that I might no longer try to serve God and my own self-interests.
Great God of mercy and grace, this is my time of need. I am Your child. Have mercy on me. I know that without self-denial I cannot serve You even for one hour, even for one moment. I come to You boldly through the veil, Jesus' torn body, and by His blood, having my heart sprinkled and body washed with pure water. I am Your blood-bought child. You have promised to hear me for Jesus' sake. I come to you now for mercy and grace in this my time of need. It is Your desire I serve You and You alone and have no other gods before you. I cannot serve You and any other master. It is Your desire I not serve You and mammon. It is Your desire I serve You and not my own self-interests. So I come to You, my Master, forgive me, grant me mercy and pour out Your grace abundantly to me, the chief of sinners, so I might serve You acceptably with reverence and godly fear. You are a consuming fire. I come boldly but with godly fear knowing all I have comes through the cross of Christ: my life, my ministry, my gifts, my talents, they are all from You for Your use, my Master. O, I have been sifted once more. You have shown me my sin once more. You know my frame is weak. You know my love for You is inadequate and insufficient, but I bring to You all I can. You know I love you, Lord. Grow and mature my love for You and my faith in You. I sit here now at Your feet and wait for You to stretch Your hand once more to pick me up, to hear You call me once more and send me. Amen.
“I know no other reason why Jesus has put me into the ministry, than because I am the chief of sinners, and therefore fittest to preach free grace to a world lying in the wicked one.”
-George Whitefield
Lord, it is my chief complaint,
That my love is weak and faint;
Yet I love thee and adore:
Oh for grace to love thee more!
(William Cowper)
Related posts:
- my flesh lusts against the Spirit the Spirit lusts against my flesh
- the world says . . . You say . . . I say (a prayer of dedication)
- Kingdom-Obsessed People don't seek "great things" for themselves
- why we need a new heart (Bible reading - Matthew 5)
RSS feed