I heard last week that a pastor in a little community had resigned and taken a full-time paid position in another part of the country. It was determined that the church would close the doors, leaving the twenty or so remaining families to find somewhere else to worship. The sad part is that the hope that drew these families out of a dominant worldly religion, now rendered them expendable. Worse of all, all this was probably attributed to God's call that once worked miracles in the dark, but now was insufficient to keep the lights on.

When "called" to serve the Lord, few, if any, make conditions on their service. But as time goes on, it becomes evident that something changes along the way. Not only were there unspoken conditions in the beginning, new ones are revealed as time goes on. It's possible they were called but lost their fire by becoming a professional minister who preached good but doesn't listen to his sermons. But it's also possible, they finally realize they are serving in their own strength and not willing to live a lie any longer.

I'd like to think all seminary students have a passion to win the world regardless of the cost and a desire to equip themselves with tools to do the job well. But too many attend for the opportunity that graduation and influential recommendation affords them. After all, if they get the right kind of established church after graduation, they can get a good salary with benefits where no expectation is made and early retirement is afforded. And part-time speaking opportunities should continue to provide good compensation long after school and ministry years.

Unless you've been charged with speaking in God's confidence to people who don't want to listen, then you may find it difficult to understand what God's word reveals to us this morning. Serving God is seldom free of trouble. Like the prophets, many people have stood in the face of humiliation, physical assault and threats of retaliation, and proclaimed without compromise what God told them to say - regardless of the cost.

What gives some men spiritual resiliency to stand tall in the face of trouble and turned others into excuse-makers where they blame God for their failure? I'd like to say it's the call of God, but I'm afraid better men than me have failed in that alone. What causes one man to "lose" his calling and another find it in a place where the cost of following Jesus is not so costly or difficult? It's easy to say godly men never fail, but that's simply not true!

I give you Ezekiel this morning. He had a wonderful vision of the holiness and power of God, so God called him to serve tough people in a tough place at a tough time. Only God can make us strong enough to stand when we're afraid and want to run away. He can give us purpose, but only we can decide if the cost of serving is worth the effort. I pray that like Ezekiel, we'll be strong in the power of the Lord and His call and weak in our own.

1 Developed from Read the Bible Thru ( Ez. 1:1-3:15 Hb. 3:1-19 Ps. 104:1-24 Pr. 26:24-26 )
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society

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