Pick me

Commercials, they are either a mercy that brings joy during a lifeless ballgame or a supreme annoyance that disrupts dramatic moments, leaving us trapped in suspense. However, some ads are so good that they etch themselves into our brains. They hypnotize our minds so much that when we see certain colors or objects, hear sounds, and go to make purchases their brand will automatically come to mind. The United States Armed Services are no different. I still remember the Army’s “be all you can be.” But the one that has endured is the Marines. The Marines’ commercial always says, “The few, the proud, the Marines.” It speaks to the exclusivity of the branch, meaning to make it as one of their number you must be special because to do so is difficult and not capable by everyone.

God’s Word teaches us that there are such groups in the Church. Paul writes that God calls some to preach, but not everyone. Notice Paul does not say, “some pick to be preachers,” but that God calls them. Why? Because our human hearts and desires are feeble. They change based on our emotions, circumstances, and times. Those things are not rocks we should build our life on, they are sinking sands. Someone called to preach does not choose it, they preach because there is a fire in their bones that compels them to do so. That fire is God, who is an all-consuming fire.

What happens when someone picks this life when that fire does not exist? What if God has not called them and they pursue this road anyway? In 1 Kings we are given a glimpse of what happens and how God responds. 1 Kings 13:33-34 says:

33 After this happened, Jeroboam still did not change his evil ways, he continued to appoint common people as priests at the high places. Anyone who wanted the job he consecrated as a priest. 34 This sin caused Jeroboam’s dynasty to come to an end and to be destroyed from the face of the earth. (NET)

We all have heard the phrase, “that is the last straw.” Meaning, someone has been pushed to their breaking point and are done with what ever is happening to them. Jeroboam reached that point in his sin. He had been ordained as king over a portion of God’s people by God. However, Jeroboam spit in God’s face after receiving the appointment by setting up idols for the people to worship. While God certainly was upset about the idolatry, the text reveals God was also grieved by the people Jeroboam chose to lead this worship. Common people who rejected God and were certainly not picked by God were placed as the spiritual leaders over the people. The role of priest was reserved only for those who God had picked.

In the age of grace, we no longer limit those who can serve based on family lines (in the OT, only the Levites could serve), and as Christians we believe that every single one of us belongs to the priesthood of believers. But the role of preacher is not a role that someone decides to pursue for themselves. In the words of Dr. Nina Gunter, General Superintendent Emeritus of the Church of the Nazarene, “God calls you.” Mankind does not pick their own messengers, but God ordains them form every race, nation, gender, and economic class. That means God picks you for the role of preacher.

When I write God picks you, I mean God has picked you for the task of proclaiming His Word. Just as God’s Holy Word was written by Spirit filled individuals using their own understanding and style, that is how God is calling you. All can possess the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, but God does not turn us all into square pegs. He wants you to use your voice, intellect, passion, and talents to speak the good news to the culture of your world. Gain the understanding by wrestling for yourself with God’s Word, refuse to take the easy way out by becoming a parrot.

Now with all that said, understand while God has picked you, He will affirm His call to you by other people who see the gifts and graces of Christ’s Spirit resting on you. Ordination is God’s church affirming God’s call upon you. Though the process may be long with many obstacles in the way, and the journey grueling, those who genuinely believe in God and have confidence in His call will have the endurance to reach the end.

Is God calling you to preach? Then do not hesitate, be like Peter and Andrew who immediately dropped everything and follow Jesus. Are you trying to obtain this role without God’s call? Stop! You are a square peg trying to be jammed through a round hole, and it will hurt. Cease this striving and seek the role God has for you in His kingdom.

written by Jason Barnett. Jason is the pastor at Greensburg Church of the Nazarene, in Greensburg, KY. You can LISTEN to his sermons via The Dirt Path Sermon Podcast. FOLLOW him on twitter and The Dirt Path Facebook page.