November 2005 chaplain's corner
The Chaplain's Corner is a monthly message for chaplains.
Chaplain’s Corner – November 19, 2005
Rev. Rich Hines
Your First Priority Is To Serve The Lord Christ
This message is primarily for those who call on the name of Jesus Christ as
their own Lord and Savior from sin, and serve as a Chaplain in a jail, prison
or a follow-up ministry such as a rescue mission – in the United States.
All Scripture quotes are taken from the New King James Version (NKJV) of the
Bible, copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson,
Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. When quoting a
text, any deviation from the NKJV text is placed within parenthesis signs ().
These usually occur as direct translations from the original languages,
or as notes from the original setting to help apply the text to today’s
culture. ALL CAPITAL LETTERS are sometimes used to emphasize a text, or to make
a comment about a biblical text.
This month I’m not giving you Chaplains an exposition of a Biblical passage.
Rather, I simply want to exhort you from a few texts.
As you Chaplains draw near the traditional “Holiday Season,” I want to offer
both my sympathy and some spiritual encouragement.
First, you have my sympathy, because I know what you’re up against. All the
expectations the inmates and staff have for you to “make the season bright.”
Thanksgiving and Christmas are real problems for inmates. These days are (at
least according to the television they constantly watch) traditional family
times. Inmates are cut off from family, and suffer because they can’t be with
their loved ones.
The staff sort of expects you to come up with endless programs to keep
everybody happy. I realize how tough it is to be the universal problem solver
and still represent the Lord whose birth we’re supposed to be celebrating. My
“sympathy” includes asking many believers in different circles to pray for you at
this time about this fact of life for Correctional Chaplains.
As for SPIRITUAL ENCOURAGEMENT, this month I want to speak to you about the One
you serve.
The Apostle reminded Christian servants: “You serve the Lord Christ.” (Col.
3:24). It’s the same for you and me in any ministry we undertake. WE NEED TO
CONSTANTLY FOCUS ON HIM.
This month, and hopefully all year long, you’ve been teaching inmates and
residents about being truly thankful to God. Among other
things, THANKFULNESS RECOGNIZES AND FOCUSES ON GOD’S GRACIOUS GOODNESS.
An aspect of thankfulness is simply to constantly RECOGNIZE GOD!
Though simple in concept, in actual hurried ministry it’s easy to forget that
we are always to serve the Lord. Often ministers fail to practice this basic
Christian principle. As the human demands and our efforts to meet true needs
multiply, sometimes we fall into thinking we just serve men and almost forget
about God.
We have a role to fill and human expectations about that role sometimes border
on tyranny! If we allow it, soon we’ll only be thinking in terms of “How do I
please the administration?” or – “How do I please this inmate or that
resident?” Then, in a spiritual spiral downward, we can fall into the practice
of mostly wanting to look good outwardly to men. The next step down is rarely
(or never) stopping to think about what the true God thinks - about us! What
does Jesus think of your life and service for Him, today?
In dealing with this potential problem of forgetting God, we have help from the
Apostle’s second Spirit-given letter to the Corinthians. In this letter, it’s
obvious that he was aware that God, even more than men, was constantly watching
him.
Look at three texts from 2 Corinthians:
2 Corinthians 2:17
“… we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but
as from God, we speak IN THE SIGHT OF GOD in Christ.”
2 Corinthians 4:2
“… we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor
handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth
commending ourselves to every man’s conscience IN THE SIGHT OF GOD.”
2 Corinthians 7:12
“… that our care for you IN THE SIGHT OF GOD might appear to you.”
In the first text, the true ministers of the gospel are in contrast to false
apostles that peddle, or literally “hucksterize,” the
ministry – preaching in God’s name for base monetary gain. By contrast, the
true minister has pure motives - because he is aware that God is CONSTANTLY
WATCHING him.
2 Corinthians 4:2 is similar. True ministers from God disown covert methods of
ministry. They don’t use cunning words to deceive people. The word “craftiness”
in verse 2 is the same as in 2 Corinthians 11:3, where it refers to Satan’s
deceptive speech when he tempted Eve. Rather, as evidence of being sent from
the God of all truth, His ministers behave upright and are straightforward with
their words – because they’re SURE THEY’RE ALWAYS
BEFORE THE PRESENCE OF AN ALL-SEEING GOD.
The last text in 2 Corinthians 7:12, is a reference to the love from God in the
hearts of His ministers. That love is not just sentimentality. Rather, it
always seeks the best for its object.
The context of 2 Corinthians 7:8-12, is the discipline of a sinning member of a
local church. Paul commended the Corinthians for responding to his directions
to them in a prior letter. They handled the matter properly. In verse 12, he
was saying his words weren’t meant to hurt anyone, but rather they were a
manifestation of the love that ministers have - BECAUSE they’re cognizant of
always being BEFORE THE GAZE of God. The fact that God is always watching is a
great motivation to let His love flow out through us.
Tied to the knowledge of being constantly seen by God - is the fact that He
will hold His servants accountable. He will judge all they did. He’ll also
judge all the motives behind their deeds.
Therefore, in a very real sense the Apostle Paul didn’t overly concern himself
with what others thought of him - compared to the evaluation of the Lord Jesus.
He realized the Lord was the One who was constantly aware of all he did and
thought.
Note this in 1 Corinthians 4:3,4
3 … with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a
human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.
4 For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He
who judges me (this could be translated ‘He who constantly examines me’) is the
Lord (Jesus).
Paul was constantly aware that in the end, he would face the Lord Jesus Christ,
Who would be his Judge and ultimate reward Giver. He also wanted other
ministers of the gospel (including you and me) to be constantly cognizant of
this fact.
Note this in 2 Timothy 4:1,2a:
1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge
the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:
2 Preach the word!”
This “charge” or solemn laying out of responsibility before ministers includes
ALL OF US TODAY that name the name of Christ, and
profess to be His representatives anywhere.
Note the strength of the Apostle’s language. He charges us BEFORE GOD, or in
the eyes of God. God, even the Lord Jesus is watching you and me today. Are you
concentrating and focusing on Him? Are you paying attention to Him? Are you
watching for His approval?
If you’re truly thankful for what God through Christ has done for you, then
show it by constantly focusing on the fact that IT’S HIM, not man, you SERVE.
In closing, place yourself in Timothy’s place and hear your father in the faith
tell you to:
“… kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you … For God has not given us a
spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline (or, ‘sound judgment).
Therefore DO NOT BE ASHAMED of the testimony of our Lord, …
CONSIDER what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
REMEMBER JESUS CHRIST,…”
(2 Timothy 1:6,7,8; 2:7,8 - NASB)
May the Lord be central during this holiday season - for you personally and in
your ministry.
Rich Hines
Minister To