Quote:
Originally Posted by aron
... my failures could now be turned against the enemy, ... I can say that "truly my soul rejoiced in the LORD" when I saw that. I was filled with hope, and purpose... I rejoiced that I could be a part of that purpose...
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It must be stressed that seeing that, and typing a few words about it on a computer keyboard, and posting it on the internet, is not the same as obeying. Whether or not I have been faithful to the heavenly vision I dare not say. But I can say with conviction that my struggles suddenly had a precious context, and a divinely-imbued purpose. Suddenly I saw something. I saw Jesus saying in Luke 22:32 that when Peter was restored to the light, he should encourage those brothers who, like him, had been faltering. I saw the psalmist (Psa 51:13) declare that after experiencing God's gracious salvation, he would then proclaim God's mercy to sinners, and turn them back, who also had been cut off from the presence of the Most High God, the LORD of hosts.
But have I really been shepherding anyone? I don't know. But it certainly gave me the incentive, and the courage to try. I remember the days when shepherding people only meant to lead them to THE MINISTRY; any human contact outside of that was vain. In fact, shepherding others apart from THE MINISTRY could be seen as factious; I might be forming a party or a sect, and trying to draw others off after myself. My hidden "gopher" of ambition was being revealed. I would be a "destroyer of God's building" if I didn't hold THE MINISTRY uber alles.
Maybe. But some years ago, having gone "back to christianity" or "back to the world" or wherever I was, and as usual being frustrated, defeated, discouraged, confused, and full of self-pity and loathing, I suddenly got the most marvelous revelation. I was working in the rough part of town, and I went into my supervisor and complained that the toilet paper kept disappearing in the public bathroom. The bathroom had these industrial-sized rolls of toilet paper, and they kept disappearing. Surely no one could use them that fast! He explained that the crack addicts stole them. They could get 50 cents for a roll. So they went around to all the public bathrooms, and when they got 10 rolls, they could get 5 dollars and a hit of crack.
Wow! I thought, somebody out there is as screwed up as I am! Maybe more screwed up, even! So suddenly I had a "clientele". I had people I could shepherd! And I tell you, as soon as I started to care for others, I felt God's care for me. Jesus was right, as usual: whatever you do to others God will do to you. If I shepherd others, God will shepherd me. If I encourage, console, and counsel, instruct, and comfort others, God will do the same for me. If I point others to God's grace in Jesus Christ, the pathway of life will shine brightly before me. Everything changed. At that point I stopped looking back toward THE MINISTRY, and stopped thinking incessantly of MYSELF, and I began looking around for someone who needed a kind word. Sometimes all you have to do is hold the door open, smile, and say, "Good morning". Make a little effort to care for those around you. And God will be with you. The very things that you do to and for and with others, so God will do to and for and with you.
It is very easy to find suffering people on this planet. Very easy. Truly the fields are white, and ripe for harvest. And if you make a little effort to care for those around you, the Paraclete will come and care for you.