What a Responsibility

The past two Sunday's our interim pastor has been trying to prepare our congregations hearts for our new pastor that is coming the beginning of next month. He has been laying out the role and responsibility that a minister has over his flock-and what our role is as the congregation. It's kind of like when you were a child, you didn't know how to stay out of trouble, until your parents told you what you could and could not do. The Lord has really been opening my eyes to the responsibilities of Sunday School teachers and deacons also. Our pastor talked about a verse I hadn't read in a while.

"Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers,

because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." (James 3:1)

To teach or lead in a church is a huge deal. It says right there in black and white, that you will be judged more strictly. You are held to a higher standard because you are guiding and leading God's children. What a major responsibility! Teaching a Sunday School class isn't something you do to try and reach some kind of "church social status". It's not something you do to draw closer to the Lord-it is something you do because you are already close to the Lord and you want to share in that wisdom He has given you. You must seek Him daily in prayer and be in His word if you are to be a teacher and leader in a church. In the words of Jesus himself, "If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit!" (Matthew 15:14b).

This past week has been crazy and next week will be even crazier. Thursday morning, I realized that next Sunday, the ladies of my Sunday School department are getting together for fellowship and a short Bible study-a Bible study that I am responsible for leading. I realized that in the midst of chaos, I must make time to seek God in prayer and to be in the Word everyday if I am to be equipped enough to lead these ladies. To lead them is a huge responsibility. I started out with a huge stack of bible study books. I started flipping through trying to get ideas on what we should talk about. Suddenly in the midst of thinking, "Oh, this looks good; maybe I'll use this material." I realized-I hadn't even asked God what HE wanted us to talk about! Here I was-with Marion's strength trying to find something on my own accord without even seeking His guidance. I stopped right there, closed the book and started praying. After all-this isn't about me or what I think sounds good-it is ALL ABOUT HIM and how He chooses to use me. I want it to be His words-not mine that leads this group of wonderful ladies.

Right after, and I mean RIGHT AFTER I finished praying, I got an idea of what we should talk about-an idea that was not in a book at all! Then I flipped open another book I hadn't looked at yet and guess what-there in black and white was something I could use with the bible study. I was amazed and how things were starting to align itself. An hour later I got a phone call from a dear friend of mine. We started talking about different things and I invited her to come next Sunday night. I started telling her what God had laid on my heart to share. With enthusiasm in her voice she said, "You will never believe this, but I am doing that same thing in my Tuesday morning bible study and it has been so great!" We laughed at how God reaffirmed what He had told me earlier that morning. God is so great isn't He! When we take ourselves out of the equation and ask Him to use our lives to bring Him glory-He will do just that very thing!

I needed to be reminded that even though my life is so busy, if I am to be a teacher and leader of someone- I MUST make time to seek His Word. It is the VERY BREATH of God Himself! How amazing that is! If I don't read it and seek Him in prayer, I'll be like the blind man who leads others astray. I will be accountable for every word that comes out of my mouth-how I pray that it is His words and not mine!