January 7

Written by Bill Grandi on January 7th, 2019

I had what I consider to be the greatest privilege. Yesterday, I was privileged to stand before the people who came to worship and open the Word. What a privilege! What a responsibility! In the past I know there have been times when I have not taken it seriously. It comes easy to me to stand in front of people. And so I have stood in front of people-attempting to proclaim God’s truth-in my own power. I can sense though when I am done that there is/was an emptiness in my soul. I know it was done by me.

The Bible is plain: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” (2 Tim.2:15)  I failed on those occasions in two areas: 1) I failed in my own heart. The Word had not penetrated me; and 2) I failed to correctly handle the truth. More often than not it was what “I wanted to say” not “What does God want to say through me?”

I was prompted this morning to do this reflection, this inward look, because of something I read by G. Campbell Morgan: :

We (I) had better never handle than learn it by letter without being obedient to its call and claim so that our lives may be transformed by its message.” (p.26)

The sad fact is that while I may have stood in the pulpit and done an “adequate” job, I missed out. If God’s Word did not hit my heart first, if it did not transform me, I was/am a “noisy gong and a clanging cymbal.”

“Forgive me, Father, for my ‘windbag’ approach. I had no more business being in the pulpit than the empty blowhards I so often criticize who demolish the truth of Your Word. From this day forward, transform me with your message before I step into the pulpit.”

 

5 Comments so far ↓

  1. Ryan S. says:

    Sometimes it is difficult to recognize. I appreciate your openness regarding preaching coming from you at times. I know I can relate. In the course of parenting, my job, my interactions, I should be reflecting the light of God. When people look at me, they should see God’s work through me. I must admit, that is not the case probably more often than not. A good reminder this morning that whatever my profession… whatever my interaction… I should not be living a life that contradicts what God has purposed. Thankfully, there is God’s grace to cover when it does.

    • Bill Grandi says:

      It is tough, I think, to recognize Ryan. I may have honestly thought I had prepared myself only to find out i was looking for accolades and praise. You are right about one thing for sure: when people look at me they should not see a contradiction.

  2. A constant question . . . Is what we are doing for us or for God? Such a wake up call here, Bill.
    Blessings!

    • Bill Grandi says:

      A very “rude” wake up question Martha. By rude I mean…Ugh! Probing. Convicting.

  3. floyd samons says:

    Thanks again for your honest thoughts, Bill. None of us succeed all the time, but humility gets us one step closer.