Like Justin, I do suffer from a relatively mild case of Cerebral Palsy. God has used my handicap to keep me dependent upon Him and to help shape me into the man He wants me to be (a work in progress for all of us). That my Cerebral Palsy is a part of my ministry, there can be no doubt. However, it is not the center of my ministry. The first, and most important, thing that we must look at is the fact that our calling into the ministry is not because of us choosing to preach the gospel. The choosing process is not up to us. It is God who has chosen us to be the minister/preacher. This is so important for us to understand because when we realize that it is God who has chosen us then we will understand both the privilege and responsibility. Being chosen by God is not to be taken lightly.
Amos 7:14-15, “Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit: And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel..”
In this verse we can clearly see that God was the one who chose Amos. How about you? Who is it that has chosen you? Was it the pastor that continually told you that you would be a minister until you finally started to believe or was it God? How about the seminary student? Do you think that because you went to a Bible school you should be a preacher? Not only do we see the selection process of ministers in the Old Testament but we also see it in the New Testament.
John 1:6, “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.”
In this verse we see John the Baptist being sent by God. He was sent by God Himself and not by someone nudging him. It was not John’s decision to minister to the people but it was God’s.
Now, one of the things that we must point out is the fact that God has not chosen us by the works that we have done but by grace. Being called to minister is much like the calling to salvation which is by grace. Salvation nor ministering is something that we have a right to. Salvation and ministering is a gift from God. It is by His grace. Grace is defined as undue favor. In other words we can identify with grace as something that has been given even though we don’t deserve it. One of the greatest attributes of the apostle Paul is his humility and sense of worthlessness as he stands before God.
Pastor Garry Cuthbert
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