Yesterday in Rogers, Arkansas, a teenager was taken into custody and questioned after allegedly impersonating an officer. He tried to pull a young girl over and even flashed his fake badge to her. She didn’t buy it and called the police. Good for her! He later claimed he thought she was driving erratically. We’re beginning a new study tonight on what authentic Christianity looks like, and authentic faith in Christ always begins with a new birth.
(By the way, this series is loosely based on Warren Wiersbe’s book The 20 Essential Qualities Of An Authentic Christian
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Tonight I had the privilege of hearing a recording of Dr. Warren Wiersbe delivering the commencement message at Dallas Theological Seminary. He read a verse that has spoken to my heart many times, Psalm 78:72, “So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.”
I have been given a very precious and wonderful privilege - I get to serve as Pastor to one of the Lord’s great churches! They have shown me appreciation in far more ways than I deserve. They trust me as I stand to preach, to deliver the pure words of God to them, to expound the Scriptures to them on a weekly basis. Their love for me feeds my love for them in return. David expressed the desire of my heart, that I might feed God’s people according to the integrity of my heart and that I might lead them by the skillfulness of my hands.
Oh God, may You give me a heart of integrity! The word “integrity” comes from the same Greek word from which we get our word “intiger.” There are fractions and there are whole numbers, and whole numbers are integers. Lord, may I be the same man in the pulpit as out of it. May I be wholly holy!
And God, may You increase my skill that I might become a better servant of Your people. The task is overwhelming at times. I must be a shepherd, a chaplain, a communicator, a strategist, a counselor, a theologian, a webmaster and newsletter editor, and occassionally, a janitor… but I love ministry and I love the people to whom I minister. I’d do it for free!!!
God, may I lead them well, may I feed them fully, and may You be glorified in our midst!
