I Gotta!

1 Corinthians 9:16  Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News!

I call myself a semi-retired pastor. Semi-retired because I do things like write a daily devotional (you’re reading it!), and I record video Bible Studies and upload them to Remnant Church’s YouTube channel. So I am not fully retired from ministry, and I’m not sure I ever will be.

My grandfather pastored well into his 90’s, and was still the pastor of a church when he went to be with Jesus. My Uncle Bill was pastoring when he joined Grandpa in heaven. They had both lived great lives, didn’t pastor for the money, and didn’t do it for fame or glory. So why do it? Why keep up with the demands of preaching and meeting people’s needs?

Because ministry burned in their bones. The had to preach and lead, it was God’s gift on their lives. Neither of them wasted it, and neither of them felt like a silly little thing like age should get in the way of God’s calling.

Why do I keep doing what I’m doing? I gotta. I gotta teach, I gotta write, I gotta share Christ’s love. I gotta.

Paul said the same thing. “How terrible for me if I don’t preach the Good News!”

What is God burning in your bones? What is his path for your life? You have one, that’s for sure. You may not be called to preach, but you have a calling. As Mark Twain said, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”

It’s time for you to find your “I gotta!”

Today’s Readings:  Joshua 18-20; 1 Corinthians 9