"Preacher"

There always was a preacher,

To remind me of what’s true,

A man of God who told me,

What I should and shouldn’t do.

Some of them were friendly,

And some of them aloof,

Some were sure of everything,

As if their faith had proof.

Others asked you questions,

They really made you think,

But ready with a lifeline,

When you thought you might sink.

Some of them were scary,

They preached a real hot hell,

I ran down the aisle each time,

Of judgment heard them tell.

Some became my mentors,

They said it’s not too late,

For you to do the will of God,

Advised I should not wait,

But answer to the calling,

God was giving me,

And it just beat everything,

When it was plain to see,

That I would be a preacher,

Instead of chasin’ cows,

To steady gather people,

And work in church somehows.

This life has not been easy,

Some folks have let me down,

Times of grief and sadness,

I thought that I might drown.

But God was always faithful,

And always saw me through,

I’m now a cowboy preacher,

What He wants me to do.

And so I’ve come full circle,

And a long one it has been,

But from the first those preachers,

Were telling me back when,

That I was called to preach the Word,

I’m honored that I can,

And by His grace and Spirit,

That’s where I’ll take my stand.

“And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News.” (2 Timothy 1:11, NLT)

Paul was chosen and called by God and he never forgot it. No matter what our specific assignment, all of us are called into ministry and are gifted to do God’s will for us. We are all called to carry out the great commission of Jesus, and that is to make disciples for Him. This can only be done in the power of the Holy Spirit, and in fact is how the church of Jesus Christ is built in every generation. It’s all about the Holy Spirit using us to do thing we otherwise would never be able to do. Paul was confident of his calling. We can be just as confident concerning ours.

Lord, use us to do Your work, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Kenneth Wyatt, used by permission. Thanks, Kenneth, and God bless you.