Let Jesus Do The Evaluation

On Jan 1, 2019, I will have been a contributor to Sermon Central for 19 years. Sigh, almost everything I think about has been for decades or decades ago. Some days, I feel like a dinosaur and other days I am Caleb who was just as strong after forty years in the desert as when he started. (Joshua 14:11)

The older I get the more I wonder if my the chances God has given me worthwhile. I nearly died at 6, 16 and 46 and who knows how close I have come and did not know it, but these three stand out. It is kind of like Private Ryan who was told by the dying CPT to make it worth it asking his wife if succeeded as they stood by that CPT's grave many years later.

Paul said he judged nothing before the time and often our own self-assessment is skewed by people's opinions, our own standards and other things that may make our assessment come out grandiose or make us feel like a garbage can.

Even stats can be deceiving. Every week I get a message from Sermon Central showing my stats. Last week

534 Total Views 159 Sermons Viewed 42 Countries Reached

In nineteen years

1,187,869 Total sermon views

Yet, did the reader walk away with edification or encouragement? Was it like water off a duck's back? Many pastors have that question as they minister and do not see lives changed or watch people crash after being under their ministry for years. Where did we fail or did we?

I tell preachers that I give my card to that they will find things they agree with and things they don't agree with, but they will be inspired either way and have sermon material. I say it in jest, but it really is true.

I have had some folks ask to use my outline or quote me. One lad even quoted me positively in a book he wrote. I have had some less than edifying comments as well.

Some of the sermons may be jewels in my crown and others just wood, hay and stubble. Ones I thought were well done may have been awful and ones where I felt like I stepped in pile of Texas fertilizer may have had the most impact.

We are not to compare ourselves to others so because my books did not end up best sellers while another man's have doesn't mean his were better or mine useless. Many pastors will never be on TV or have their sermons broadcast. They are no way inferior to the ones broadcast worldwide and some of those broadcast worldwide are not necessary good preachers or preaching the truth.

The key is faithfulness with what you have been given. That may be all you can assess yourself with and still you may have been as faithful as you knew how and missed a few opportunities. Or you may think you blew it when you did not. Only He can properly assess what you have done with what He has given you.

Take heart in Hebrews 11:35-40. These folks are not mentioned by name, but are mentioned for their faithfulness. If you have not been as faithful do not despair. All of God's heroes had flaws, lapses of faithfulness and obedience, but they got it right with Him and He used them beyond their imagination and better than they deserved.

We are to labor with Him and maybe we are planting oak trees or redwoods that we will not see mature in our lifetime. Some of the people we think are really seeing fruit may be planting tomatoes that will not survive after they die. Many ministries go downhill after the loss of a founder while others go on long after they have passed. Which had solid fruit and which had some wood, hay and stubble? We have no idea.

So stay in the work. Fight the good fight always looking to Him for the fruit while seeking wisdom.

John 13:7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.

You may be in a season of not knowing what He is doing. Look to Him and the revealing will come here or maybe not until the BEMA. He will accomplish His work in you for He does not fail even though we do. Peace be unto you!!!! Maranatha!!!!