Frequently, I hear from men who
faithfully proclaim the gospel of the grace of God, who are discouraged. These
are men who study diligently and boldly proclaim the doctrines of grace. Many
of them have paid a high price for what they believe and preach. But their
congregations are small. And, judging by the standards of this religious world,
they see very little "ministerial success". I can relate to their
feelings. I know something about the discouragement and despondency such
brethren go through. Over the years, the Lord has taught me some things which
help me to overcome such discouragement.
EVERY TRUE SERVANT OF GOD RECOGNIZES HIS OWN
INSUFFICIENCY FOR THE WORK OF THE GOSPEL. We have a true and sincere burden
for the souls of men and the glory of God. But we recognize that we have no
ability in ourselves to change the hearts of men. May the Lord ever increase
our heart's burden to see men truly saved by the grace of God. God's servants
are men of true compassion. And may it please the Lord to ever increase our
awareness that the work we are engaged in is his work. In the preaching of the
gospel everything depends upon HIS POWER, HIS GRACE, AND HIS PURPOSE.
THE ONE THING GOD REQUIRES OF HIS SERVANTS IS
FAITHFULNESS. The Lord uses some men to plow, some to plant, some to water,
and some to gather. It should not be any great concern to us what he uses us
for. After all, we are HIS SERVANTS. He can use us as he will. It is a
marvel to me that God uses me at all! It will be worth all my labors in the
gospel if the Lord will use me in anyway whatsoever to call one of his sheep,
to comfort one of his children, or to bring glory to his name. The Lord God
does not require us to produce anything. He simply requires faithfulness from
his servants in the work he puts them in. This is the thing we must do - WE
MUST BE FAITHFUL, in the study, in prayer, and in the preaching of the
gospel of Christ. We must faithfully plead with God for men. And we must
faithfully plead with men for God. If we will be faithful, some will hear, and
some will refuse to hear; yet, they "shall know that there hath been a
prophet among them". We who preach the gospel of God's free and sovereign
grace in Christ must practice what we preach, by patiently submitting to the
will of God in all things.
AND THE LORD OUR GOD WILL ACCOMPLISH HIS ETERNAL
PURPOSE. This is the thing that keeps me encouraged in the work of the
gospel. Whatever God has purposed to accomplish through me, he will accomplish.
"He shall not fail!" It is neither the will nor the purpose of God to
save every person in the world. It is God's purpose to save his own elect; and
that he will do. The Lord Jesus Christ shall see of the travail of his soul
with satisfaction. All of his redeemed ones shall he with him in glory. The
Holy Spirit will regenerate, call, sanctify, preserve, and glorify all of God's
elect people. And in the end the Lord our God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit
shall be exalted, honored, and magnified for ever.
In the eyes of this religious world we may be reputed
as nothing. Our work may appear to be insignificant. But every faithful servant
of God may be assured of this - OUR LABOR IS NOT IN VAIN. The
Lord has promised, "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:
it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please,
and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it". Let us therefore be
found faithful. God requires no more and will accept no less from his servants
than FAITHFULNESS.