December 2, 2023
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I was sitting in a conference room at Mount Wesley, a Methodist retreat center in Kerrville, Texas.
I was there to be interviewed by a group of approximately forty people, most of whom I did not know.
This was the final step in what had been an eight-year process toward becoming an elder in the church. Anyone could ask me anything. After the interview this group would vote and, hopefully, I would be approved to be ordained the following summer.
The questions began and a pastor I had never met looked me in the eye and said, “I don’t like you. I think you’re arrogant. Convince me you’re not.”
Wow! How in the world would I respond to that statement? Whatever I said was going to make a big difference. What do I say? What do I do?
What I didn’t do was immediately open my mouth and start talking. That would have been disastrous! Instead, I sat for what seemed like an eternity, prayed for the Holy Spirit to give me the words, and that God’s Will be done.
My life flashed before me. I was a husband, a father, a son and a brother. I’d been to school and had worked in the real estate industry as a lawyer, a developer and an investor. I’d served the church for years in lay positions. And in the summer of 2000, I’d felt a very distinct call from God to enter into professional ministry. I felt called to be a pastor. I wanted to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, teach and perform the sacraments of baptism and holy communion. Within the context of the denomination, that meant I had to be an ordained elder and that meant going back to school and getting another degree, this one in theology. So, I spent a year shutting down my law practice, paying down my debts and preparing for seminary. I began the process of becoming an elder which, in addition to three years of seminary, meant four more years of probation prior to ordination. I had been tested and poked and prodded and examined and questioned.
And now here I was about to respond to a very significant statement: “I don’t like you. I think you’re arrogant. Convince me you’re not.”
I finished my silent prayer and began to speak. Here is what I said as best as I can remember:
“We don’t know each other. I am sad that you believe I’m arrogant. Could it be that what you see as arrogance is actually confidence? I know I’m a child of God and I want you to know that you are too. I believe God created me. I believe God the Son, Jesus of Nazareth, lived, was crucified, died and was buried. He conquered death so that I would know God and by believing in Him, I have eternal life now and will be with Him in heaven forever. I want you to know that truth for yourself. God created you and you are His precious child. Jesus Christ died for your sins and for the sins of the world. Christ is risen and one day Christ will return. My prayer for you is that you believe in Him.”
Although that experience was extremely awkward and uncomfortable, I am thankful that pastor made that statement and asked me to respond. That was a moment of clarity for me. It was absolutely a Holy Spirit experience. I believe the Holy Spirit spoke through me. And apparently my response was good enough to pass the interview. But more importantly, it helped me understand my purpose.
I have thought a lot about that conversation over the years. I quickly came to realize that my response defines who I am and why I do what I do. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ and I want you to be one too. I want you to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. I want you to know Him. And I want you to tell others about Him.
REMEMBER & BELIEVE
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
In the meantime, "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9 (NIV)
PRAYER
Dear Lord, we are thankful that You are our God and that we are Your precious children. Thank You for loving us, creating us, guiding us and protecting us. Thank You for sending Your Son our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, so that we may know You and have eternal life with You now and forever. And thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to live in us.
Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil and the evil one. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 (NRSV)
God bless you!
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