URC Weekly 3/6/2011: A Prophecy



Hello family,

I have been praying for long-term direction of ministry for quite some time. Some of you may know that I personally aspire to become a professor of the New Testament, and start a seminary in underprivileged country. I also have been struggling with guilt that a part of me wants to go this route to avoid ministry woes of a church pastor.

I hope that you do not misunderstand me; I love being a pastor, especially YOUR pastor. I consider it a privilege with all of my heart. I love our church family, and can’t think of no better community I want to serve than here. Frankly, how I feel my life is doing fluctuates greatly depending on how you are doing spiritually.

I guess what I want to tell you is that I have been struggling to let go of personal ambitions. While I see nothing wrong with my dream of becoming a professor and eventually planting a seminary, I just want to make sure that I go for it with purely God-honoring motive. So that’s why I have been praying about this for a while.

Then on last Tuesday, God answered me. As I was asking God whether my desire to be a professor was personal greed or not, the phrase “John 3:27” came into my mind. As ashamed as I am, I admit that I couldn’t tell you what this verse is on top of my head. So, I looked it up.

“A man can only receive what is given him from heaven.” That’s what the verse says. I took it as God saying it’s ok to have my personal ambition to serve God through teaching. On the other hand, I saw God’s sovereignty, as my future completely depends on what God will. Thus, I can only receive what God chooses to give.

I pray that all of us may live in a way that recognizes that we can only receive what is given us from heaven. God bless you.

• ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE: 3/9 (WED) @ 8PM in A Room
• COMMUNITY GROUP: 3/11 (FRI) @ Deacon Sung Kim’s, Potluck @ 7PM
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• SNACKS: TBA
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• DEVOTIONS: Mark 2 – Mark 7