No one likes to make mistakes. If you’re like me you probably want to learn enough about a subject to make a good decision or perform a task well. But there is a danger that we never feel that we know quite enough to share. As believers we tend to think a pastor needs to lead others to Christ because they know the bible really well. But then we think that means we get to watch on the sidelines cheering but doing no work.
In today’s message we explore God’s call for us to use what’s in our hands.
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11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[a] met him. They stood at a distance13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
John 17:11-19
Tonight I’m reminded of receiving a pair of shoes from a friend who knew I needed them. I see a high school english teacher who believed there was leadership in me who groomed me to do ministry…he taught me about books like The Friendship Factor by Alan Loy McGinnis and Why Am I Afraid To Tell You Who I Am by John Powell. His instruction would mold my concept of fellowship, ministry and church. I pause now to say thank you, Charles Gordon and Bruce Freeman.
I remember feeling rejected because my gifts didn’t seem to be valued by my church. I remember talking with one of the greatest preachers I have ever known who said “David, I believe in you. I think you can do it. Preach the gospel!” I pause to thank C. D. Brooks.
I have always loved learning. My dad, Victor Griffiths was an educator par excellence! My Uncle Arthur Clarke always encouraged me to get a job in the school system but I shied away from it. My friend Patrick McCoy encouraged me to explore teaching as well but I felt overwhelmed by the prospect of the process of getting a teaching job. God opened the door for me to experience full-time teaching and I’m grateful for both those who encouraged me to teach and those who gave me the opportunity to do it in Howard County. I pause to thank LaShonda Dreher, Uncle Charlie, Patrick McCoy and Terry Eberhardt.
I remember having a passion to do ministry using technology and wanting to share both music and the word with others through social media. I wanted to start blogging and vlogging. I wanted to have content that was professional in appearance. I also wanted to share these skills with young people in my church and community. But I didn’t have the money to buy a professional camera. I pause to thank Rankin Yeo for his support.
My mom and I always talked about the idea of finding a benefactor who would allow me the resources to pursue music ministry. Mom said that with the right resources I’d be able to share the musical artistry and spiritual insight that was overflowing from my heart. Today I showed my students a clip from a live recording and songbook release concert. We talked about it for so many years it seems like it’s still a dream when God already sent me the reality. I pause to thank Gerald Young and Bamm Washington.
It’s so easy to get caught up and forget to say thank you. When I read the story of the 10 lepers in Luke 17 I think surely I’d never be like “The other 9.” But I do it everyday. Sometimes it’s because I’m tired. Sometimes it’s because I’m still stressed about other stuff that hasn’t worked itself out yet. Other times it’s simply because I take for granted the very blessing of God in my life. Have you ever been there?
Wouldn’t it be great if we made a commitment to thank someone who has been a blessing to us every week? Let’s try it! Where I start is by thanking God every morning for life. I believe in this so strongly! I have had the most amazing experiences in these seasons of gratitude. I’ve had original songs come to me as easily as if they already existed. I’ve had amazing ideas to solve problems that I’ve been pondering. God has blessed me in the moment of my gratitude to a point where I believe it’s true: You can’t beat God’s giving! And I’m reminded of all those God has used to bless me and I want to let them know how grateful I am
Maybe you are busy. Maybe you are stressed. Maybe you just don’t realize how good God has been. Whatever the reason, please don’t be like “The Other 9.” Who could you write a note to right now to say thank you for being a blessing in your life?
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My journey to worship has taken me to the classroom. I found out as never before how children can bring you a good dose of humility. Being a teacher is often hard work though rewarding. But being a substitute teacher is even harder in many ways. Your students don’t respect you for many reasons. They figure if you were a good teacher you would have a full time job somewhere. And they know that they won’t have you for very long so why should they listen to you.
I spent 3 months as a long term substitute teacher at a public high school in Maryland. While it was fun and exciting because I was doing music and working with children it was anything but easy. There are so so many emails to answer every day. There are all these abbreviations and acronyms – UBD, GT, etc. There is software for taking attendance and software for recording grades. But you have to transfer the grades from the one software and place them in the other. UGH!!! There is creating a sectional schedule and making sure the students and staff have it. Then you have to remind the students to come and when they don’t remind them to do make up sectionals. There’s scheduling outside time to rehearse students for All State chorus auditions and GT (Gifted and Talented) choir. There’s so much more but I’m just getting tired thinking about it!
Of course there’s teaching class. And then there’s performing. Extra rehearsals, hiring an accompanist and scheduling rehearsal with them. (I’m getting tired and stressed again)
But you may ask, “David, what does this have to do with worship?”
In the book of Hebrews I’ve found a quote to live by especially while being a substitute teacher.
“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.” Heb. 10:24
The “Real” teacher may receive more respect than the sub, but it’s really a team effort. The permanent music teacher wants their choirs, bands, or orchestras to sound great when they return and so they want the students to cooperate with the sub to learn their music. So I focused on one thing: Loving them more.
There were days when the disrespect I encountered hurt me. And I prayed. And a voice whispered, “You don’t love them enough.” It didn’t matter that I was in public school and couldn’t “Share my faith.” All that was needed was for me to habitually love them more and more. To keep trying to prepare and present my best. To engage even with those who hurt me and to notice and share that I noticed the little things about each student under my care. If a student was missing to check on them. If invited to a student’s event to really try to go. And I prayed for them.
The amazing thing was all the love that came back. Students made cards and caramel apple slices and gave me other gifts as well. One class even took a picture and had one of the students draw it as the cover to the card they gave me-that’s the photo on this blog post. And they told me how much they appreciated my teaching. So today I want to challenge you as the verse says to acts of love and good works. Your job, your marriage, your situation may seem hopeless, but I bet you can love more. You can love more. You really can. I dare you to try and out love JESUS!
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I’m honest enough to publicly admit a major shortcoming in my character. I’ve been waiting. But I think I’ve been waiting a bit too long.
I like to be very thorough when I study a subject. And if I’m attempting a project, I like to plan in detail so I am able to succeed. But I don’t like to start until I feel confident that I’m prepared. Spiritually I’ve been waiting for God to prepare me to do great things for Him. But it seems as I’ve grown older that God has been waiting for me to take action.
There has always been the idea in my head that if you pray long and hard enough God will reveal His will to you. Then, once you have your marching orders you are set. Now you can go out into battle. But what if you’ve been waiting 20 years and no marching orders have come? Does that mean God isn’t ready yet? Or does it mean God is waiting for us to take action?
Let’s consider this series of questions. What if she hadn’t touched the hem of his garment? What if his friends hadn’t lowered him down through a roof to see Jesus? What if she hadn’t had the boldness to enter the throne room of the king uninvited waiting for the approval of his extended scepter? Would her people have been saved? Would he have been healed? Would her bleeding have stopped?
It seems that God has some things that he will only give to us if we take an action first. The action is our demonstration of faith. Hebrews 11:6 tells us, ” But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Asking, seeking, knocking or even reaching can be our sign of faith that pleases God. He in turn blesses our faith action with a favorable result. But what if we never took that leap of faith?
I believe that the stories of the bible reveal consequences both of taking action and of refraining. The 5 foolish virgins don’t get to go to the wedding. The servant who hid his one talent gets it taken away from him. There were two thieves at the cross with Jesus. One reached for life and got it. The other simply missed his moment. Please don’t miss your moment!
