LET THE ANSWERING MACHINE PICK UP THE MESSAGE MINISTRY!

A couple of weeks ago I received a call at 3:45 a.m. When one receives a call at this hour of the morning it is always important to the person making the call to make that call whether the recipient of the call thinks it is important or not. Well, that’s not altogether true. I remember when Misty was in high school and this dude called at 3:00 a.m. and I told him that under no circumstances was my daughter going to talk to him at that time.

What was the difference in the two calls? The latter was by a kid who was either drinking or drugging or maybe just goofing off, so I dismissed it. The former was by a man who had written me about his problems just two weeks prior to the call. Of course he was all chipper. Did I wake you up? Yes, you did! Well, your wife was awake because she answered without delay. No, she wasn’t awake either. etc. etc. etc. But, I spent an abundant amount of time with him as I have numerous others.

Ministry is 24/7. We have established that. Scenario: I get a call at 3:00 a.m. and the voice on the other end says, You don’t know who this is but I just need to know if I commit suicide, will go to hell? Many people would abruptly answer emphatically YES! Do I approve of suicide? Absolutely not—under no circumstances, but I won’t fall into that trap for several reasons: 1) I am not God; 2) I must understand that the person is saying I’m a gona’ do it if you give me the right answer! or 3) I might do it! or, 4) in the very least, the person has suicide ideation. I must keep him or her on the line and keep them talking.

Could that scenario be considered a life and death situation? Of course it could. My job here might just last the remainder of the night or until the person passes out or worse. But, I have a job because I do ministry. But, what if I didn’t take calls like the two I mentioned. How unloving can one get? How unlike Jesus? How far from ministry? I just believe there is a serious lacking of love in some folks’ ministry. I guess we could let the suicidal ideated die. We could let the hungry starve. We could let them all wait until we had a convenient time. I go on record as saying these are not Jesus attitudes toward life or people or ministry. Dear children let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth (I Jno. 3:18). It’s great to hear lofty words about love from the pulpit but when does the rubber meet the road?

My son got relieved of his “preaching job” just a couple of weeks ago, which wasn’t the worst thing that ever happened to him under the adverse circumstances he was trying to work and then got called for 15 hours of ministry the following week. He could have said, I’m not getting paid to do that anymore! He could have refused the requests.

If I recall correctly, Paul and Silas did something really great for a girl at Philippi. As a result they were dragged into the marketplace to face the authorities, upon which they were immediately attacked, stripped, and beaten, being severely flogged and thrown into prison, into the inner cell, and their feet fastened in stocks. My last sentence was nearly as long as one of Paul’s as he writes in the Greek text, or the title of this article, but to make a long story a little shorter God broke them out with an earthquake. The jailer, who was subject to death if they escaped, came running in and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (Acts 16:30). And Paul and Silas replied, Check with us tomorrow. It’s too late to ponder such issues. This can wait for another day. Did they? NO WAY!!!

Paul and Silas went to the jailer’s house, got their wounds cared for, ate a great meal, taught them the Gospel, baptized them all, and had a really great night at ministry. Of course they had no telephones or answering machines but they did have one terrific night. Yes, ministry works at night just like it does in the daytime. Did you know that? Lovingly, h