When I was 21 years old, a few years back now, I came to know the Lord Jesus as my Savior. I didn’t know much about the Bible or the Christian life but it wasn’t long till I found myself engaging people in one on one conversations about the Lord and what it meant to know Him. People seemed to open up to me. I even had my pastor tell me some very personal things and then say, "I am not sure why I told you that." Now I know, God gifted me with a likeable personality, an ability to make the complex simple and what I’ll call the trust factor. People just felt like they could trust me. I’m not sure over the years how many scores of people I helped come into a relationship with the Lord but it was the "excitement" factor in my life. I lived in an anticipation wondering, "who’s life will change today?" I knew God was using me and I was available anytime and anywhere. One of my neatest stories was of helping a young man find his way to Christ while I was on vacation. We were on a fishing pier about 1am in the morning! He went on to become a Christian leader in his church.

 

Then my role became more complex being a pastor and serving in churches for 18 years. The truth is the work of the church pretty much killed the work of God in my life. I had grown weary with people in my role as a leader of the ministry and all the political wranglings and power struggles that go on in churches. I actually pretty much stopped engaging people one on one unless it happened as a result of my professional role.  

 

Fast forward now, its been 4 years since I’ve been a full time minister. Last week in a strong encounter with the Lord through my time of reading, thinking and praying, He showed me I was made for those one on one encounters. That is my life’s purpose. That is where I’m most useful to Him. That is where all He has built into me comes together into the most effective use of my life. Seeing that purpose come clear and having everything in me resonate with it has relit the passion in my life.  My radar is back on, I’m listening for the soft promptings of the Lord to say, "son, I need you to share me with. . ." I’m living the adventure again wondering, "who’s life will change today?"

 

Scott