Clergy/Leaders' Mail-list No. 2-152 (Devotional)

FOLLOWING GOD'S CALLING

by Peter Kennedy

"So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, 'It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.'" - Acts 6:2-4

G. Campbell Morgan was born on a farm in England in 1863. He preached his first sermon when he was only thirteen years old. He had no formal training for the ministry, but his devotion to studying of the Bible made him one of the leading Bible teachers in his day. He was ordained at twenty-three into the Congregational ministry.

His reputation as a preacher and Bible expositor soon encompassed England and spread to the United States. He spent five years in the United States strengthening the faith of those who came to Christ through D.L. Moody's evangelistic campaigns. His greatest gift was teaching the Bible and showing people how to study the Scripture for themselves.

So popular and effective was Campbell Morgan's ministry that he was given all kinds of offers from many different places and people. John Wanamaker, the great Christian philanthropist and merchant of Philadelphia, offered to build Morgan a million dollar church if he would become its pastor. Morgan turned him down, something the wealthy Wanamaker was not accustomed to in his dealings with people. "I am God's man," Morgan humbly replied. "If I did that I would become John Wanamaker's man."

What has the Lord called you to do? Whatever it is, don't be sidetracked by other offers. Today in prayer, thank Christ for the ministry He has given to you and do it with your whole heart.

"They (the Twelve) are saying, in effect, every gift is important. 'We simply are sticking with the gifts that were given to us, and we want you to find among yourselves those who have other gifts.' They charged the congregation to do this." - Ray Stedman

God's Word: "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." - 1 Corinthians 12:4-7

DEVOTIONS IN ACTS

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2002, Devotional E-Mail

To subscribe direct, go to http://www.devotions.com