Not About Me
Good whatever time it is for you!
It feels like it has been so long since we first created this site, yet when I look back, it has only been a little over two weeks.
It has also been a little over 24 hours since I was blessed to attend the Pettijohn Preachers Retreat with two brothers from our congregation. The immense wisdom in the room, the examples set before me, the love and support, and the eye-opening testimonies were more than I honestly anticipated. I left filled, encouraged, and somehow more tired than when I run for more than ten minutes (which is saying something, because I don’t run.)
With so many wonderful lessons and thoughts shared, there is no possible way to relay everything I learned in one short update, so I won't try. What I will say is this: God is good, and God is working. Not just in me, but in our communities, in our churches, and throughout the world.
One thing that has continually been on my mind throughout this journey is imagining what ministry might look like. I have pictured my future self (with much bigger muscles than I currently have) ministering to youth in a congregation, helping them grow, surrounding them with a support system, and watching them develop a love for Christ. I've pictured myself preaching from a pulpit, reaching people with the Gospel and helping lead them to Christ. I've pictured myself being involved in my community, loving people and showing them the love of God. I've even imagined myself serving in various niche ministries, perhaps working for a ministry organization rather than directly for a congregation.
And those thoughts have been exciting. They've been encouraging. I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with imagining the work God may allow me to be a part of, but something I was reminded of at this retreat was that I need to finish those pictures in my mind differently. I need to take myself out of the center of that picture.
I can imagine communities growing in faith, not because of something I accomplished, but because of the power of God's love working through His people. I can imagine whatever ministry I may one day be a part of accomplishing its purpose, but the glory belongs to God.
Paul puts it simply: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” - 1 Corinthians 3:6
This journey is not ultimately about us. This work is not about our accomplishments, our abilities, or even the things we may be able to do. This work is about God, His power, His Son, His Word, and His glory.
I am unbelievably thankful that I was reminded of that and encouraged to give the glory where the glory is due. We see the apostles do it. We see faithful disciples do it. We see Jesus Himself continually point people toward the Father.
What a blessing it is to imagine the ways God may use me to reach souls who might otherwise never hear the Gospel. But what an even greater blessing it is to complete that picture by taking myself out and putting Christ in. Because the greatest blessing a person can receive on this earth isn't knowing who preached to them, who taught them, who encouraged them, or who helped them along the way. It is knowing Christ and having a relationship with our Lord.
And if God allows me to play even a small part in helping someone find that relationship, then what a blessing that will be. Not because of me, but because God gives the increase.
So as this journey continues, that is something I want to keep at the forefront of my mind: less of me, more of Him. May whatever work I am blessed to do point people away from me and toward Christ.
“Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but to Your name give glory, for the sake of Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness.” - Psalm 115:1
To Him be the glory,
Hunter