John 7:14-2414 About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. 15 The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” 16 So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17 If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. 18 The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. 19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?” 20 The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?” 21 Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it. 22 Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man's whole body well? 24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”
Only two years after seminary my husband received a call from a large church in a city in Northwestern Ohio. We were a bit surprised since we were young and inexperienced. We made the trip to meet with their Search Committee. During the day, there was ample time for questions and answers as we were chauffeured around city. This tour revealed many unattractive scenes – a blighted downtown area, an oil refinery belching green, black and yellow smoke from its various stacks, gray skies filled with pollution and nothing but flat land. We were only there to meet and get acquainted, or so we thought.
After Norman delivered a sermon for the congregation that evening, we were ready to go back to the motel to reflect on the day’s events. They, however, on the spot, extended the call to us to become their pastoral family. Perhaps it was shock and inexperience that caused us to say YES . Once back at the motel and alone, we looked at each other in disbelief. “What have we done?” Sadly, it hadn’t dawned on us to ask, “What has God done?”
During the next twelve years, the ugliness we first perceived was transformed into beauty. The church building was filled with the genuine love of people seeking God’s will. Even the refinery served a positive role in the city. But the greatest beauty revealed to us was that we had only presented ourselves and God had done the rest. What a valuable lesson to learn at that early stage of our ministry. The teaching and preaching was not really ours but was from Him who had sent us.
During this sacred and powerful season of Lent, as we seek to draw closer to God, hold on to these words. “My teaching is not mine, but His who sent Me.” Seek to live your life that it may be so.
Prayer: Loving God, guide us that we may always seek to do Your will. Amen
Janet Hagley
