#339 - WORK IS WAITING

We rested. We shopped. We ate. We watched movies. I read. We rafted together down the American River. Then we rested some more. Shopped some more. Ate some more. Watched more movies. And then I read some more. In summary, our vacation was awesome.

But now our vacation is over, and it's time to get back to work.

Work is waiting.

Services need to be planned. Sermons need to be written. Directions need to be given. Expectations need to be communicated. Videos need to be recorded. Phone calls need to be made. Invitations need to be extended. Funds need to be raised. Meetings need to be scheduled. Volunteers need to be recruited. Orders need to be placed. Emails need to be sent. Presentations need to be prepared. Things need to get done.

As it pertains to successfully starting a church, a lot of work is waiting.

But as I prepare myself to jump back into the work that is before me, I am reminded of Luke's writings about the early church in Acts 6:1-4:

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

Though a lot of work is waiting, I must be crystal clear on the work that is waiting for me.

Will I "serve tables?" Absolutely.

But the truth I must embrace (and not feel guilty about) as the Lead Pastor of this church is stated best by Matthew Henry in his commentary on this passage, I "must be God’s mouth to the people in the ministry of the word, and the people’s mouth to God in prayer."

Stated more simply: Prayer and preaching - this is my priority.