In my Bible reading I have been in a well, um, shall we say, less than thrilling portion of scripture; the book of Numbers. Now I do think Numbers has gotten a bad rap but it can be a bit dry. However, it does let us know that God pays attention to detail and that He is interested in the details of our lives.
In Numbers 3:3 NASB, it says, “These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed priests whom he ordained to serve as priests.” Many of us in Teen Challenge are ordained in a particular church or other religious organization. I would also contend that all who serve in Teen Challenge are also “ordained” even if they do not have credentials with a particular group. If you are called to this ministry I believe you are ordained by God to fulfill the specific assignment that He has for you.
The footnote to verse 3 says that the literal meaning of the Hebrew word for ordained is “filled their hand.” That phrase really stuck me when I read it; “filled their hand.”
Do you realize that as you have been called and equipped for the ministry of Teen Challenge that God has filled your hand? I think by this it means that God has given to us what we need to do the ministry that we have been called to fulfill.
If you have been called to be an Education Director (or whatever term you use) then God has filled your hand with the ability to teach others. If you have been called as the food service supervisor then your hand has been filled with the ability to provide nutritious meals for the students and staff. If you are the IT person then God has filled your hand to provide technology that will assist in making ministry more effective and efficient.
As the sons of Aaron were chosen and ordained by God, as their hands were filled by God for the service He called them to, so we are chosen and ordained by God; our hands are filled by God for service. Even though we carry out different ministry functions we are all ordained by God to work with whatever he has placed in our hands.
Paul said it well when he said, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” (Col. 3:17)
So the next time you may feel a little weary when it is time to carry out one of your ministry responsibilities remember that you are not there by your own efforts or choosing but that God has “filled your hand.” Now you have the opportunity and privilege to use it to bless others and to glorify God.
The Impact of Decisions
We have to make decisions every day, some small and some large. Recently I have once again been made aware of the long-term impact of decisions in a situation that I have watched play out over several decades.
Now we have all taught our students about this. Galatians 6:7-8 is probably in my Top Ten Most Quoted Verses in my years of ministry. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh from the flesh will reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life.”
We share this with our students to help them understand that some of the difficulties they are dealing with in their lives now are a result of choices they made earlier. Though we want to make it crystal clear that God has totally forgiven them of their sin, we also want them to see the connection between past choices and present problems. Of course we also want them to know that they do not and should not continue to sow to the flesh but should now sow to the Spirit. What a different harvest it makes!
As leaders in Teen Challenge, we should also remember that a decision that we make today will have implications for our ministry in the future and also in the lives of staff and students. Many times those implications will not show up today or tomorrow but will show up in the distant future.
What will be the long term effect of the decision I have to make today? Is it a decision that I will be able to make again if a similar situation arises? Is it a decision based on the principles involved in the problem or am I making it based on the personalities of those involved? These and many other questions should be considered when we are making either personal or ministry decisions.
What decisions face you today? How will you approach them? Ask God to help you see the long term effects and implications of those decisions.
Let me leave you with two more verses of scripture. The first is a word of encouragement and the second is a word of direction that should guide our decision-making process.
“And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” (Gal. 6:9-10)
Verse 9 lets us know that as we seek God for the decisions we need to make we can know that He will use them to further His kingdom. Verse 10 gives us an underlying principle that we need to consider in any decision we have to make: do good to all people, especially other believers. May the Lord help each and every one of us make decisions that will bring about a great harvest now and in the long run.
