I started reading in the book of Romans today. I read through the first 2 chapters, and then went back to read through them again...I didn't get past the first verse in chapter 1 -
Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God (Romans 1:1, NASB). I believe all Christians are slaves to the master Jesus, and we have all been set apart, but there seems to be a different - I hesitate to use the word special - call placed on the lives of people to enter into vocational ministry. I have always thought of this call as a blessing, and I still do, but Romans 1:1 has me thinking that it is more than just a blessing. When I think of "the call" I think of it as a joy, blessing, and privilege. However, these thoughts tend to lead me to believe that I should always be "successful" (By man's definition of success), and that things should go well because, after all, God is the one who told me to do this with my life...right? Thinking that way leads to disbelief, frustration, and disappointment when things do not go the way they should, or as well as I think they should.
Romans 1:1 started me thinking that maybe the call to ministry isn't so much a blessing, as it is a burden. Don't get me wrong... I do find great joy in what I do, but maybe that is just a benefit. God said that he would show Paul how much he must suffer for His name's sake (Acts 9:16). I think my motivations are wrong if I perform my job because of the joy and blessings that it brings, not to mention the emotional beating I will take when things don't go as planned. However, if I approach my call as a burden that God has placed on me it actually encourages me, at least this morning it is. I know that probably sounds weird, but pointing people to Jesus and helping them to follow Him is not easy, and it is resisted by the Devil every step of the way. I would rather know that it is a burden and will be hard, than to believe that the call to ministry is what you see when the Pastor steps up on stage to speak.
Anyway, that is what Romans 1:1 got me thinking about this morning.
