What did you do?

Share post ->

In my church, we had a new English pastor for 6 months now. Before him, we were without a pastor for about a year and a half.

A friend once asked us how we got a new English pastor. I replied that we prayed really hard. We prayed every Wed (our weekly prayer meeting) and every Sun before service. By the time God answered, I think we were so tired we almost forgot to rejoice.
My friend looked at me as if there were more. She asked, “really what did you guys do?”
I guessed she was expecting some sort an answer like what strategy did we use and what steps we took to find a pastor. Side note: Many Chinese churches have a great need for English pastors. They are few in numbers!
Compare to God, what we do is very little. When we focus on what we do, we lost sight of what Sovereign One had done, is doing and will be doing. Everything starts with relying on Him and everything ends with depending on His providence.
John said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (1 John 3:30 NASB)
Compare to what I do, it is nothing compare to what God who makes things grow. I am tempted to boost my own works (sign of pride, ego, self centerness?)….when it is God who should take the credit. I need to decrease…

One Response

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

If you are bored :-)

Cliff lying down with his baby daughter. It is a thumbnail for a blog post.

The Painful Tension Between Ministry and Family

There was a season when Wai Jia and I attended a missions conference with our two-year-old and our baby. We have always loved missions, so being there stirred something in me again. I remember sitting in that environment and feeling the old desire rise up in my heart. I wanted

Cliff with his two daughters. One is a baby and the other is a toddler.

Confession of a Stay-At-Home Dad

A Biblical Vision for Christian Fatherhood I never planned to become a stay-at-home dad. If you had asked me years ago what faithful Christian living looked like, I would have said ministry, missions, or serving in church. Not changing diapers.Not managing tantrums.Not slowly climbing stairs with two little kids. But

When Your Wife’s Calling Is Bigger Than Yours: A Christian Husband Reflects

What happens when a husband feels like his wife’s calling or career is bigger than his own? Many Christian couples quietly wrestle with this question, especially as they seek to understand the biblical roles of husband and wife. Recently, a friend asked me a question about marriage, work, and calling.