High Stakes

It passed through my heart this morning the high stakes of caring for hearts God has entrusted to us. I fear we take it way too lightly.

If I operate haphazardly then the ramifications often follow me and affect those I serve.

How will a sheep follow a shepherd, or leader of any kind, who is unkind, arrogant, or always confused in mission?

If I seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness then I ought to be filled with wisdom and grace that then can overflow into the work of the ministry.

If I’m self-serving, the sheep will suffer and my endeavors will fall short because my motives are impure.

I might preach and teach but my words will often be void of the nature of Christ.

I watch many hurl theologies, ideals, and “hair-splitting” words that seem good but I often wonder if they’ve actually worked with the hurting.

Because when you’ve heard the stories of what people have endured you’ll be moved by compassion like Jesus was.

We preach Jesus, yet many times, do not imitate Him. When we study His movements and how He handles people in the scriptures we find the Good Shepherd who leads well.

We can use few words and be full of power in a moment as God touches a heart.

I don’t need fanfare and drama to have the Spirit of God enter my rooms. I don’t need to “work up” fire for appearance. He will bring the “real thing” as He comes. I need to be surrendered to the King with a humility that is a fragrance to His heart.

If I choose to box Him in with theologies that remove the suffering of the cross or “bents” towards a “no sacrifice” kind of life then I will inherently misunderstand my life following Jesus, as will those I get to serve.

But if I train people to be prepared and positioned for the entirety of the cross where death is working in us, then the hearts I serve will be unshakeable in the face of trials and warriors they will become.

High stakes, indeed.

2 Corinthians 8-12