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Men of Integrity, May/June 2003
Exhibit A
Theme of the Week: Marking Time?
Thursday, June 12
Key Bible Verse: Blessed are those who wait for him to help them (Isaiah 30:18). Bonus Reading: Isa. 64:1–5
The pastor had made a radical statement to the two of us over lunch about remaining patient. We challenged him. He quietly responded:
"When I arrived at my first church, weeds had taken over. The building was in shambles. Five pastors had come and gone in three years. No one in the community had any confidence that I'd be any different, so no one came to worship.
"My wife and I patched and painted and replaced the broken windows. Over time we restored the church building to a functional state. I made calls around the community, but still no one showed the least interest. So I decided to prepare and preach my sermons as if the place was full. Every Sunday morning for three years I stepped into the pulpit and preached to pews completely empty except for my wife.
"Finally God gave us one family. Since his kids were the only ones we had in Sunday school, the father of the family became my superintendent! Slowly, over the next few months, however, God began to bless."
By now my friend and I had melted, embarrassed, into a puddle of humbled awe.
—Patrick Morley in Walking with Christ in the Details of Life
My Response: Where am I called to work, alone if necessary?
Thought to Apply: God is in action and … when the circumstances are ready … and when our hearts are prepared, He will call us into action. —Eugene Peterson (educator, Bible translator)
Adapted from Walking with Christ in the Details of Life (Zondervan, 1990) by permission.
Copyright © 2003 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.
May/June 2003, Vol. 6, No. 3
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Prayer for the Week |
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Lord, I trust You to act when the time is right. Give me the discipline to wait for Your time.
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