God Is With Us

John Wesley's dying words are recorded as simply:

The best of all, God is with us!

 

Once upon a time, people were very concerned about what their last words were. Knowing their death was imminent, sometimes men of old would repeat their intended dying words several times to make sure their last words were exactly as they were intended and recorded clearly. An account of an observer of Wesley's death testifies that he repeated these words as if to be sure they were clearly noted.

 

Perhaps we would do well to think upon these words. I am on a new adventure as the pastor of a new church. And, as I noted in my message Sunday, my church is in the midst of this "arranged marriage" that we United Methodists create when we appoint pastors to churches. It is easy for both of us to become consumed with figuring one another out. And there is time for that and need for that, but we should do it together remembering that God is with us. God was here before we were and God will be with us and God will be here after we are gone. This is a humbling reminder of our place in the eternity of God.

 

As Moses passed the torch to Joshua, the reminder is given that the Lord will be with them. As Jesus nears his ascension into heaven and is preparing the disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit, he reminds them that he will be with them to the end of the age. There is something about the human experience that needs a constant reminder of the presence of God in our lives.

 

And it is a comfort. Many Christians live long stretches of their lives wondering where God is. People are often unable to sense God's presence because the pain of the human journey has accumulated to the point that the sensitivity is no longer there to be aware of God. If you fall and break your ankle, you might forget that you are hungry and haven't eaten breakfast. The pain will overcome the sensation of hunger at least for a time.

 

I confessed a degree of apprehension Sunday morning. I want to do a good job as the pastor of this new church. I also know my own faults and so I worry if I will be up to the task. We all experience real fears as to whether we can be all that God has for us to be.

 

But as I reminded myself and the people of Epworth on Sunday morning, God has not called the church to do small things. God has assured us of his presence on our journey, and because of that, we can be bold and do courageous things. My fears of inaptitude for the job are only lies from the adversary that would keep me from trying. God has called us to be strong and to, at least metaphorically, take possession of the land we have been called to take. That "land" might be places where the hungry are fed, the naked are clothed, the lost are saved, or injustice corrected.

 

I don't know what you might be struggling with today. I don't know what lies you are believing that are keeping you from being or becoming all that God wants for you, but I want you to remember that God is with you.

 

If nothing else got beyond the benediction Sunday, I hope the assurance of God's presence stuck. God's people should know that God is with us. This is the best of news!

Find Us Faithful

Steve Green sang a song a number of years ago called "Find Us Faithful". The refrain of that song goes like this:

Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful.
May the fire of our devotion light their way.
May the footprints that we leave
 lead them to believe,
 and the lives we live inspire them to obey.
Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful.

 

Yesterday, the benediction was something special for me. In both of the churches on my charge, I gave the final benediction I will give as the appointed pastor. The service included special music brought by me and my children (who are both musicians) and a liturgy for bidding farewell to a pastor. The service was deeply emotional for me and many of those in attendance.

 

Near the end of the service, I sang the song quoted above. It is an old song, but I've found nothing yet that I feel better conveys my hopes for my time in any place of ministry service. The song is really a prayer that simply expresses my heart's desire that after I am gone, people will look back upon my time there and although there were mistakes made (sins of commission and omission), that in general, the footprints that we left behind pointed people toward Jesus.

As I write this blog entry, the movers are at my house packing all of our belongings and preparing them to be delivered to our new home on Wednesday. My family and I will begin walking in ministry in a new place. We will be making new footprints.

 

My personal thoughts over the past few weeks have been deeply reflective of my time in Alma, Georgia. I know I did some things right. I know I did some things wrong. Perhaps what is most troubling to me are the things that I never did at all. I have tried to learn all I can about myself as I think back on my ministry here. I am doing that because I want to walk better in a new place. I want to leave more footprints leading in the right direction so that more will come to believe.

 

Pundits often speak of politicians trying to "rewrite" their legacies as they near the end of their term or even after they leave office. It can also be that preachers are sometimes remembered more fondly after they are gone than they were appreciated during their active ministry. Regardless, I want to begin with the end in mind as I start a new chapter. I want to be mindful that first impressions last only so long and that how we are "normally" is what folks will mostly remember. I don't want a legacy that needs whitewashing after I am gone.

 

I want to leave a genuinely authentic walk with Christ as my legacy so that those who come behind me will find me faithful. I want my own discipleship journey to last beyond the benediction - out of the sermon and into my life. I want there to be no doubt that even though I wasn't perfect, I was faithful.

 

And I know I can't do it alone. Come, Lord Jesus, and guide my feet while I run this race. Come, Holy Spirit, melt me, mold me, fill me, use me. Come, Lord, and speak to me that I may speak.

 

Lord, where I have been, let it be that I am found faithful.