Little things matter. Recently a nursery director received a gift bag of thanks for her service in the church. It was not much, but just a little something to say “thank you” for directing one of the most difficult ministries in a church. She later told her pastor, “I have never gotten anything like this in the ten years I have served.” She was completely bowled over! It was not much, but some times it is just a little that some one needs.
Maybe the phrase, “The devil is in the details,” comes to mind. In Arizona, an employee of Arizona Public Service removed some monitoring equipment as part of their job. Something went wrong and that small job being done turned into a blackout covering 1.4 million San Diego energy customers. Pastors, preachers, assistants, and volunteers are always looking for ways to get an edge in the ministry. The answer can some times be found in being mindful. The Bible gives solid advice on how to best occupy a servants most important tool and weapon in the ministry: the mind.
1. Remembrance in Prayer
The worst lie that a Christian can tell is, “I am praying for you.” Paul stated to timothy in 2 Timothy 1:3 “I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night an day;”. Prayer is hard work and often times it is not intended, but prayer requests go forgotten. Just like the saying goes, “A short pencil is better than a long memory.” Write down prayer requests, pray for them, and keep the promise made in passing. Prayer is the key to remembering, and remembering is the key to prayer. Schedule a time and place. When someone pulls on the preacher’s suit jacket in the middle of service, some times that is the best time for prayer. Churches should normalize praying everywhere.
2. Mindful of The Tears
Paul tells young Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:4, “Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;”. To add to this point, I remember what that the Psalmist said of God in Psalm 56:8 “Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?”. Why is Paul mindful of Timothy’s tears? Why are the Psalmists tears collected in God’s bottle and book? It is because what means the most to people some times is being remembered when times are tough. Every body is there when an award is being given, but not so many people are there when there are tears. Doctor visits, funerals, anniversaries of horrible experiences are just a few things to be mindful. A text or a letter saying, “I love you,” or “I prayed for you today,” (And mean it) have a bigger impact than anything money could buy.
3. Prioritize Salvation
2 Timothy 2:14, “Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.” The best thing provided for a person is the salvation of their soul. What can make a youth trip better? Seeing a cashier saved. What can really take a vacation up to the next notch? Taking time to tell a friendly acquaintance the Gospel. So often caught up with the big goal in mind, opportunities to witness pass by without an alarm. “Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 2 Timothy 2:10.
Pastor Jesse McCammon
Calvary Baptist Church | Flora, IL
