Jump Start # 3775
Colossians 3:17 “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”
I was visiting a congregation not too long ago. I wasn’t preaching. I came in, shook a few hands, said “hello,” to a few that I knew and quietly sat down. A man came up to me, introduced himself and thanked me for writing these Jump Starts. I thanked him for being one of our readers. He then asked, which I am asked all the time, “How do you do that every single day?” I guess from the outside looking in, I’d probably ask the same question. There is no rocket science or amazing short cuts that I have discovered. I write every day. Some days are easy. Some days it’s not.
Years ago, I discovered some authors that wrote in a way that really appealed to me. I read their books, not intending to write, but just intrigued with the way they could use words. I have been fascinated with song writers. How they get an idea and how that is shaped and becomes a well known song. For some, the thoughts just flow. Number one hit songs have been written on the back of an envelope or a napkin in a diner. For others, they have worked long, long hours, changing words and writing and rewriting to get just what they wanted.
But, that question, “How do you do that,” could be asked on nearly every page of the Bible. Run through my quick list here:
· How did God make everything out of nothing? How did He do that?
· How could the apostles go into the far reaches of world with the gospel? How did they do that?
· When Jesus told the crippled man to take up his bed and walk…How did Jesus do that?
· When Paul was nearly stoned to death, he got up went right back into that town. How did he do that?
· When a brother who has been hurt by another, extends his hand in forgiveness…how do you do that?
· When scared Joseph asked Pilate for the body of Jesus…how did he do that?
Here’s how one does that:
First, a person doesn’t think about themselves. He thinks about others. He thinks about the Lord. If ease and comfort are what we are after, then nothing worth while will be accomplished. Sacrifices, dedication, faith, hard work, and seeing the good it does for others is what drives a person. This is what keeps preachers preaching. This is what keeps Bible class teaches teaching. This is what makes shepherds keep shepherding the people of God. When it becomes a job, or is about the money, or person fame, then it won’t be long and whatever one is doing will stop.
Second, one finds something that he is pretty good at and then you do it over and over and over. And, that’s what sharpens your skills, teaches you things you didn’t realize and helps you to become organized, disciplined and efficient. This is why I am not a fan of letting a whole bunch of people fill in for the preacher when he is gone. If a man preaches one sermon a year, he doesn’t learn much, nor does the congregation. But, if that same man is up in the pulpit about every six weeks, a rhythm begins. Each time he gets a little bit more comfortable and better. Over and over and over, and everyone sees wonderful progress.
A young college student asked a well known author any inside steps that would help him become an author one day. The famed writer told the college kid to write every single day. Write when you have ideas. Write when you don’t. Write good stuff. Write things that are terrible and you’ll want to throw away. Just write, write, write. We must do that with our strengths. Find what you are good at and then make that better.
Trace Peter and Paul through Acts. They are preaching and preaching and preaching. They are preaching to big crowds and to small crowds. They are preaching to happy crowds and to angry mobs. Developing those skills helps you become good at what you are doing. This is true of leading singing. Do it over and over and over. Learn from others. Listen to others. Watch others. This is true of teaching a class. This is true of preaching. This is true of writing.
Third, don’t give up. Stephen preached when people covered their ears with their hands. Paul preached when people picked up rocks to throw at him. Peter preached when city officials send guards to arrest him. Look at men who have been preaching for decades. They are good. Look at seasoned song leaders. They are good. Look at great Bible class teachers, who have been teaching for years. They are good. A young and impatient society wants to be good by doing something one time. That rarely happens. In baseball, you’ll strike out a few times before you hit a home run. But, if one quits after striking out, he will never hit a home run. The name Babe Ruth, immediately brings up the idea of a man who lead the league in hitting the most home runs for a generation. Most do not realize that he also led the league with most strike outs.
So, how do I write Jump Starts every day? I just do it. The same as a mom being a mom every day. The same as you doing what you do at work every day. Put in the time. Learn and observe. Grow and find what you are good at and then do it. Develop great habits.
Whether it’s me and a keyboard, or you and a wrench, or you and a bowl of flour, or you with a classroom full of children staring at you, or you driving a truck, or you cutting hair, or you giving a presentation, or you giving a patient a shot, or you standing in front of a congregation leading singing, we become good at what we are doing by using the talents and blessings of our Lord in a positive fashion and finding what we are good at and then doing our best all the time.
There is no magic. There are no secret shortcuts. Finding your strengths to glorify the Lord and then developing those strengths to the maximum. You do it every day, just as I do. Although, you may not sit at a keyboard and type, you have found a way to honor the Lord through your talents and help enrich the lives of others. We are all doing the same thing, just in different formats.
Roger