“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.” (1 Peter 5:6 NKJV)
“Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18 NKJV)
“But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31 BSB)
It was “do over” time. After 25 years of looking in from the outside of the Lord’s desire and design for my life, He took me back to where we had left off. Now that my mind and body were ready to get back on the path that the Lord had chosen for me, He prompted me to seek a staff position with Resurrection Life Church (finally). My wife and I were volunteering on Sunday mornings teaching 3 year olds when the Nursery – Preschool Pastor position opened up. The timing of this opportunity led me to believe that this was what the Lord had been preparing for me. I applied for the position with great expectations, only to be told that the position was being awarded to someone else. I licked my wounds, and stayed the course until the next opportunity opened up.
Soon a staff position in the children’s ministry became available. I sought the Lord, and was confident that He desired for me to apply. This time I had a great interview, and was invited back for a second interview. The second interview went well. I went home thinking that this was what I had been waiting for. After a few days I was informed that the position was being offered to someone else. Now I was faced with the same experience that I had gone through back in 1994. Was I missing it? Was the Lord messing with me? Was it finally time to move on and find another Church? I knew in my heart that this was where I belonged. I still believed that the Lord wanted me to serve in a staff position. So what now? Through the years there were numerous times that I was ready to move on. Every time I considered leaving the Church the Lord immediately slammed the door shut on that idea. He brought me to this Church for a purpose that had not yet been fulfilled. It just seemed like I would never figure it out. The Lord impressed upon me that while I was waiting for what He had for me, I was to actively serve and support those who were placed into the positions for which I had applied. I continued to serve on Sunday mornings with the 3 year olds. I also began volunteering in the children’s ministry on Sunday nights.
Hurry up and wait seemed to be a major theme in my life. Now I was waiting on the Lord with the conviction that He wanted me on staff, and yet He seemed to have forgotten to tell anyone else. More time passed, and it seemed like nothing was opening up. Finally, there was a position posted, “Full Time Third Shift Custodian.” That couldn’t be for me. I did not come to this Church, and stay here all of these years, for a cleaning job! I was already spending most of my time cleaning at Planet Fitness. I was looking for a “front line” position as either a Pastor or a Ministry Staff Position, NOT a third shift custodian. I was a third shift custodian back in 1979 while I was a student at Jackson Community College. I thought I had paid my dues.
The Lord used my wife to challenge me to consider applying. She reminded me that all opportunities to serve Jesus in His Church were of equal value in His sight. As I wrestled with the Lord over this one, the Spirit once again spoke to my heart. He reminded me of a sermon I gave many years ago in which I thanked a dear saint by the name of Doris for cleaning the Church. The Spirit brought very clear recollection to my mind of what I said to the congregation during a Sunday morning Message, “Doris is an unsung hero. She cleans this building every week. No one even sees the work she does. Yet, without her we would not be enjoying the clean, attractive environment in which we Worship. As a matter of fact, I think that her service to the Lord may please Him far more than what II am doing from behind this pulpit.” I applied for the position the next morning. You guessed it, I was hired and started two weeks later. Pride is a sneaky little killer. It will take you out if you don’t recognize it and take it out first. It is from a position of chosen humility that the Lord exalts us.
We are up to August of 2019. I left my staff position at Planet Fitness (I kept my membership) and started on staff at Resurrection Life. The role of custodian kept me in a position that was physically challenging enough to support the continued emphasis that I had on fitness. It also fulfilled the Lord’s long standing promise to place me in a staff position in the Church that He led me to those many years ago. Most times His ways are not my ways. But His ways are ALWAYS the best ways! In many ways, accepting this position was one of the best choices I had ever made (Thank you Jesus). Another huge step forward.
I will explain this more fully tomorrow.