Why I Do What I Do!
The Apostle Paul in writing to the Corinthians gave them this statement s part of an important message he was giving them:
3 But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.” 2 Corinthians 4:13 (NLT)
It seems as if the Psalmist had the same sentiment in writing Psalms that Paul had when he preached the gospel: he believed, so he spoke! I feel that way too. It is not significant where in cyberspace that this message winds up; what is important is that I give it! It has taken me many a year to settle the answer to the question my heart constantly cried: “what is significant about what I do?” Many times it seemed as if the words I spoke were not received as I hoped. Other times my own insecurities could not take accolades even if I received them. The battles raged for years, should I or shouldn’t I – who cares if I do, who will miss it if I don’t?
Little did I know that there were a great many who came before me that struggled with the same issues. One of the most infamous preachers of all time, Charles Spurgeon suffered with a kind of melancholy that he described as “the dark night of the soul”. Despite preaching numerous times a week, writing over 140 books, carrying on the work of an evangelist, editing and authoring daily publications, counseling people, etc. – he suffered with his own set of personal issues.
The great prophet Elijah sought God to take his life, rather than live in torment from Jezebel. Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet”, and most certainly he was weeping for more than the sins of Israel. While all preachers don’t suffer the same malaise, they all join mankind in struggling with something. In fact the famous evangelist A.W. Torrey made this statement: “Before God uses a man greatly, he must first bruise him deeply.”
The events that shape our life, the struggles we face, the environment our life is shaped in – they all contribute to who we are. While we may need the Holy Spirit to shave off our negative qualities, those negative qualities alone don’t warrant a pass on the call of God upon our life. Yes, we would all like to come before the world without faults and failures, more than adequately prepared to excel in our God-given task. Yet, our Father does not wait for that to happen. Instead this is the sentiment:
But we have this precious treasure [the good news about salvation] in [unworthy] earthen vessels [of human frailty], so that the grandeur and surpassing greatness of the power will be [shown to be] from God [His sufficiency] and not from ourselves. 2 Corinthians 4:7 (AMP)
And so we write…
Maria