2025-08-08
Good morning, Dear Ones,
We have reached an important milestone in this series of messages, the last of two sections on humility, patience, submission, and ministry with today’s message. Of course, there is much more for the Holy Spirit to teach us, and that will follow beginning next week. For now, I am commanded to look at humble study. Humility, patience, submission, and a desire to serve God are all necessary preparation to maximize the experience of studying the Scriptures—the only book ever written that is wholly consistent from the first page to the last. While human hands have done the physical act of writing down each of the 66 books of the Bible, the content is given each human authors by the Holy Spirit directly from the one and only God they served [DT 6: 4-5]. Please read HE 6: 13-20, NU 23: 19, and IS 7: 14 (the last two citations deliberately chosen from the OT to prove the consistency of God’s teaching). Having established in HE 6: 18 that God can’t lie, we have learned that we can count on Him to keep His word in a way no human can. We all tell lies at one time or another, even if it is to save the feelings of another person, because we are imperfect. PS 18: 30 reminds us, “As for God, His way is perfect, the word of the Lord is flawless.”
In order to describe the topic of humble study of the Scriptures, it helps to understand some of the preparation that a member of the clergy experiences, not that all are expected to become clergy. Just as with most other studies, there can be specialization within one’s seminary studies. Some future pastors prepare for being hospital chaplains, some as missionaries, some to serve in pastoral care, some as seminary instructors, etc. My mentor got his doctorate in theology on working with the bereaved, for example. Different denominations require different courses of study taking anywhere from 1 to 3 years beyond an undergraduate degree. I’m aware of many lay people who know as much or more about the Scriptures as trained clergy do. In my denomination, training to be a pastor requires such courses as homiletics (the study of how to present a sermon), hermeneutics (the study of interpreting Scripture), church history, courses on how to access help agencies for various social, health, mental, and other issues, Hebrew and Greek, state and federal licensing practices, studies on the rites of the church, missionary practices and where needed, and so on. The job of a clergyperson is not just on Sunday!
The very first step for anyone considering to be clergy is to determine if he has a vocation for this service for God. One often takes vocational tests from a recognized vocational testing service. This involves personality tests, tests of one’s aptitudes, background checks, and interviews. 1 PET 1: 13, “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope full on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 2 TIM 2: 15, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker, who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” Being diligent in studies ensures representing God well. If we are to conform to these Scriptures, whether preparing for seminary or not, a humble student of the Scriptures takes them seriously. It must be clear in one’s heart and mind, the God is in charge, His will must come first, and that He is the superior member in our relationship with Him. The well-worn question, “What would Jesus do,” will be constantly on one’s mind.
Whether studying in seminary or not, our preparation to serve God is at His will and using the talents He has given us. As young people, we will have gone through a series of trials that test where our talents lie. For laity, this is done in churches by trying one ministry or another and spiritual gifts inventories. For those in seminary, even more detailed spiritual gifts inventories and interviews can be expected. Experienced pastors at the seminary can spot if a perspective pastor is headed for an area for which he or she isn’t qualified. For example, if a prospective pastor isn’t able to handle family emergencies with calmness and an attitude of helpfulness, that would be a red flag. Whether pastor or lay person, prayer is an important part of a person’s service to God. JOB 38: 3 [God spoke to Job in a storm], “Now gird up your loins like a man, and I will question you, and you shall answer Me!”
PRAYER: O Lord, we kneel before Your mighty throne, realizing Your superior wisdom, Your will to call the right people (whether laity or clergy) to serve You. You have given us different talents designed to lead us to that service. EPH 2: 10, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Your purpose is our growth in spiritual maturity, and You prepare us through our experiences in relationship with You to serve those around us. We must follow PR 23: 27, “Prepare your work outside and make it ready for yourself in the field; afterward, then, build your house.” You deserve for us to obey that directive and leave a legacy behind when You take us up to heaven. We thank and praise You for the love You have for each of us, love which You show us so many ways. In Christ, we pray. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: There is more to say about humble study and about how to be a Christian servant seven days a week. So, another devotion is needed. Pleasing God is going about His work, something that with practice becomes a habit and isn’t so difficult as it is in the beginning. What would Jesus do? He would remind us, as in EZK 38: 7, “Be prepared and prepare yourself, you and all your companies that are assembled about you and be a guard for them.” We must be mindful that the evil one is always trying to thwart God’s will, but He has given us the ability to oppose evil effectively, if we use humility and His power do it. Praise and thanksgiving be to Him!
Grace Be with You Always,
Lynn, JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2025. All Rights Reserved.
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