Wednesday, May 25,
2016
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we
will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Galatians 6:9(NLT)
My bride and I were privileged to
attend the 1983 Billy Graham crusade as attendees of the Pastor’s School Dr.
Graham offers. It was an inspiring time
for a young pastor and it created an enthusiasm for evangelism that I still
sense today.
One of the highlights was listening
to Cliff Barrows, who has been the song leader for the Billy Graham crusades
since the beginning of his ministry. In speaking
of how they prepare for a crusade I wrote down what he said about the kind of “ready”
that he and Mr. Graham will not compromise:
Unless we go with the enthusiasm as if it were the
first crusade and the urgency as if it were the last, we might as well not go
at all.[2]
I believe enthusiasm for the
kingdom of God, and the sense that there is nothing else more urgent may be the
two outstanding characteristics that you see in the apostle Paul. No one, perhaps, in the entire canon of
Scripture endured more hardship, opposition and obstacles than Paul. Yet he persevered with an urgency to help
build Christ’s kingdom, as well as undimmed enthusiasm, two traits which are the
best example any worker in the kingdom could emulate.
I have observed people throughout
my lifetime, particularly in light of these two characteristics. Some applied them to selfish pursuits,
looking to gain a foothold on grabbing the brass ring. Some were altruistic, working diligently to
serve others. Most all of them were successful.
So the principle Cliff Barrows
laid out about preparing and going about your mission in life is true. Rephrased for today it would be go
large, or go home. But it all
comes down to whose kingdom you have decided you will invest your life, yours
or His.
For You Today
Got your enthusiasm plugged
in? There’s a kingdom to serve, and it’s
urgent!
You chew on that as you hit
the Rocky Road today…have a blessed day!
Go to VIDEO
[1] Title Image: By Escapedtowisconsin (Own work), via Wikimedia
Commons
[2]
Cliff Barrows, Orlando,
April 15, 1983
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