Luke 3:20,

‘So Herod put John in prison...’

John spent 30 years preparing for a six-month ministry, followed by one and a half years in prison before being beheaded. Many people would consider his life to have been ineffective, yet Jesus stated that John was the greatest person who had ever lived (Mt 11:11).

John’s excellence was measured by the success of others. John got people all fired up in the knowledge that their Messiah was on Earth. The ministry of Jesus was bolstered by the efforts of John. John had prepared a generation to encounter its God (Mal. 3:1).

In today’s celebrity-obsessed culture, few people want to be the backup singer or the presenter who introduces the main speaker. We’ve adopted a mindset that if we aren’t in the spotlight, we have failed. That isn’t how God sees things.

When I was young and preparing for the ministry I wholeheartedly admit that I had this mindset. I was sure I was going to be the next Billy Graham, Jack Hayford, or John Wimber.  3 of my heroes of the faith.

Those delusions of grandeur were shattered when He called me to Pioche, Ely, Pine Haven, and eventually to Mesquite. His call for me was to be a small-town preacher with a big-time God.

When the Lord distributes rewards in heaven, we may be caught off guard to discover how He rates excellence. Many individuals who did not receive glory on earth will shine like the stars in eternity. The Lord will evaluate our deeds based on their quality rather than their size (I Cor. 3:13).

Blessings!

Pastor Duke

Pastor Duke Taber and his wife Sue pastor Mesquite Worship Center located at 140 Riverside Rd. Ste D. in the Sherwin Williams Building. You can join them Sunday’s at 10:00 AM, 6:00 PM and Wednesday’s at 7:00. Absolutely everyone is welcome and you can come as you are.