Am I a Disciple of His?

The blessings come when you work in the office at the church; it just cannot be avoided. God uses many sources to relate His goodness to me – someone stopping in to say “Hey,” the phone rings and it is a dear brother or sister on the other end, observing pastors as they diligently and faithfully study God's Word, working with fellow saints who are giving their time and resources to make known the great name of our Lord Jesus; I could go on and on.

Then come the papers, books, periodicals, quotations and concerns that tend to accumulate on my desk. There is more of this than I could ever read and still do my job, but every so often I cannot help myself. May you be challenged, humbled, and exhorted as you read one such printed item that came in the mail and caused me to stop and ponder my own determination or lack thereof.

From CAM International

Americans speak often about living a life of sacrifice. But do we really know what that means? The following journal entry written by a young African pastor was found among his papers in Zimbabwe after he was martyred in the bloody civil war.

"I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His and I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. I'm done and finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, or first, or recognized, or praised, or rewarded. I live by faith, lean on his presence, walk by patience, life by prayer, and labor by Holy Spirit power. My face is set. My gait is fast. My goal is heaven. My road may be narrow, my way rough, my companions few, but my guide is reliable and my mission is clear.

I will not be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice or hesitate in the presence of the adversary. I will not negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. And when He does come for His own, He'll have no problems recognizing me. My colors will be clear!”

Patti Clay, Business Administrator
Berachah Bible Church