"...supposed to of ALWAYS been Godly?"

"Aren’t most ministers supposed to of ALWAYS been Godly? I mean even growing up as a child?"

This question was asked by a friend of mine in one of his notes. After replying to him, I felt that the question and the answer to it were both valid and should be shared with each of you...

(My reply by God's Wisdom)

Absolutely not! Ever read Hebrews 11? It's often called the "Hall of Faith" or "Heroes of Faith" chapter. In it you'll find some of Christianity's greatest men and women! But look closer and study the people listed there... You'll find they include prostitutes, adulterers, murderers, outcasts, liars, thieves....the scum of the earth! And check out Matthew 1 and Luke 3:23-38 for the ancestry of Jesus! The same kinds of people are listed there as well! Don't you see?

We don't live by the world's standards anymore; Jesus changed all of that! :) Our worthiness and our usefulness is not measured by our endeavors to be great or our ability to be king of the hill... He died for us while we were still sinners!? He gave it all for us; his enemies... We are worthy because He has made us worthy with His blood; He spent His life to give us ours! We ALL fall short; ALL OF US. I struggle daily in my fight between flesh and spirit! Paul himself cried out to God to pull the "thorn" from his flesh three times! You know what God said? "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Look, we need our weaknesses to leave room for God's power to be made known in our lives. You are trying to earn your calling by asking Him to rid you of your faults, but guess what? You can't earn it! Your calling and your mission here on earth is NOT YOUR OWN!

You CANNOT do it without God and God is not going to make you perfect until we are all made perfect together in Heaven. So that means that you MUST rely on God to be your strength where you are weak. His grace is sufficient. Paul went on to say, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in my weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

And another thing; don't put so much pressure on yourself regarding your ministry and how and when and what-not. Your ministry has already begun! It began the day God reconciled you to Himself. Your "calling", (be it Youth Ministry, Pastoral, Missionary, Teacher or whatever), is only a small part of your purpose here on earth; God is painting a MUCH larger picture! Every choice you make, every road you take, every relationship you build; your whole life is your ministry and God has purposed you to be here! :)

So take a load off, and rest in the Power of God. Live life in the moments and stop worrying about what's to come and how your going to get there. Just trust in God and He will see you through to His Glorious conclusion! :)

"Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint."
~Isaiah 40:28-31

Grace and Peace to you all!
~Cameron :)