After I gave my life to the Lord Jesus, I sought out how I might serve Him. I wanted to have an effective Christian faith and thought that serving is where we can be effective. But my understanding of being effective was what I knew from the world. We must have the Holy Spirit teach us what it means to be an effective Christian by the measure of heaven.
The most effective saints do not do the most, but simply have faith in the One who can. The Lord Jesus said, “…for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:20 NKJV).
The more Christ you have in the Christian, the more the Christian will represent Christ. “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me…” (Galatians 2:20 NKJV).
I eventually started serving in the prison ministry. While I was in this ministry, I was so humbled and blessed to be leading people to the Lord Jesus. So when the Lord firmly called me out of that ministry many years later, I was bewildered as to why He would do that. From my view, He was calling me to an isolated ministry of writing where I would never get to lead anyone to the Lord.
Don’t measure your success in ministry by the scorecard of man. “Do not be shaped by this world. Instead be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you. And you will be able to know what is good and pleasing to God and what is perfect.” (Romans 12:2 ICB).
I was obedient to the Lord and began a writing ministry. I rarely see much fruit from this ministry, but feel privileged that He would even use me. I don’t know if ever I will influence someone to Christ in what I write. I don’t get to see if my writing is effective at all. But it does not matter what I see and what the plans of God are, only that I am obedient to what He has called me to do.
Our success for the kingdom is not measured by how much we have gathered, but how much we have poured out. “God is always fair. He will remember how you helped his people in the past and how you are still helping them. You belong to God, and he won’t forget the love you have shown his people.” (Hebrews 6:10 CEV).
Child of God, don’t worry about how God is going to work through you, only see to it that you are obedient and willing to be used of Him. Effective Christianity is not measured by what we accomplish, but what we are willing to yield for Him to accomplish through us. We don’t need to see how effective we are to be effective for the Lord. Just serve Him in however He calls you.
Kingdom success has more to do with motives than accomplishments. “So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For He will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due” (1 Corinthians 4:5 NLT).
The greatest lesson I have learned is that the most effective form of Christianity is not what we do but how we are. The greatest way to serve the Father is to love His children. If you want to serve the kingdom effectively, then represent it rightly. Be a Christian that loves people more than criticizes them. Treat all people with dignity and respect, no matter what you think of them. Be kinder than you are smarter, and you will be more effective in your arguments.
You preach a good word when you listen to what others have to say. “Don’t be concerned only about your own interests, but also be concerned about the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4 NOG).
Being kind is more important than being seen as right. “If all these things [which includes kindness] are in you and growing, you will never fail to be useful to God. You will produce the kind of fruit that should come from your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:8 ERV).
Stop trying to impress men and think that God is somehow pleased with that. Stop thinking you can serve Him by the standards of this earth and think it lines up with the purposes of heaven. Get down on your knees and pray that He would pour His love, His mercy, and His kindness into you to such a degree that it would spill out onto all those who are around you.
It is not your ability to change others that determines your effectiveness as a Christian, but your willingness to love them just as they are. “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself'” (Galatians 5:14 NKJV).
Live like it is your last day on earth and watch how kind you are to people. “…be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32 NKJV).
Blessings to you,
Paul Balius
Your message is truly anointed, I feel convicted by this word but also encouraged by it. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much, Candra! I think it is a beautiful thing when we allow ourselves to be convicted into the will of our heavenly Father! Blessings to you!
Powerful word Brother Paul….sometimes we are the only church that others can see!!!
Thank you, we are the church in the world, and perhaps the only church they will ever get near to. Blessings!
Paul. I am so encouraged reading this this morning and being reminded of your journey. God put you on my heart this morning and so I started reading your blog again. To encourage you with something…. Your writing is making you more effective for God than you can imagine. Meeting you in Boston was one of the BIGGEST encouragements to my husband and I. Your writing has caused more Christ-likeness to rise within you than you can imagine. Your witness to the world outside your writing is one of power, authority yet also gentleness and we are so grateful to have crossed paths with you. God is doing a new thing in my own life with regards to writing which is why I thought of you. I will send you a message to explain more 🙂 THANK YOU for being obedient, your example is inspiring!
Oh, Taytum, it is so wonderful to hear from you! You guys were such an incredible blessing to me! It was a divine appointment that night in Cambridge when we met at the prayer meeting. I thank God that He arranged such a wonderful gift like you and Brian were to me. Thank you so much for your kind words here to me. They mean everything to me. So often I feel like I fall flat on the ground after I write, but I just press in and have to trust that God will do the real work anyway. I am especially excited right now as God just gave me the word a few days ago to proceed with getting my book cover and text design work going. It is a leap of faith, but when you truly believe, the leaps become easier. I can’t wait to hear about what God is putting on your heart to write! That is so wonderful. You have such a heart that cannot be contained and simply must spill out onto the pages that will echo for all of eternity. Keep pressing into your calling. Message anytime, you will have many prayers from here on your calling. Blessings, always, Paul.
This spoke to my heart! Thank you Paul for your obedience, also thank you for sharing your writing with us. You have helped me tremendously. May God continue to bless you in all that you do. Many blessing.
Thank you so very much, Anna! I am so humbled that God would even use me. And I am so hopeful in all the ways He is going to use you. My greatest hope is to see God become the strength and power in others. I want to hear about all He is doing for you! Blessings to you my sister!
Your writing always fills my heart, points me to Jesus and encourages my walk. I thank God for you and your writing ministry!
Thank you so very much. That is truly my desire, to encourage others. I want to see people reach their potential in Christ, their purpose from heaven and take hold of all that God has for them.
Hi Paul! I really love this post!! Going to share it on my page! God bless 🙂
Thank you so much my friend! We have not talked for too long, look forward to catching up with you soon!
I love this post. Thanks for the reminder. God bless you!
Thank you so much! Many blessings to you!
I have been reminded of Tim Tebow, whose mother was encouraged to have an abortion, but chose to give birth. He became an amazing quarterback for the Gators, going onto the NFL. In his playoff game against the Steelers, the same number that he wore during Gator games came up in ways that truly opened people’s hearts, one man converting right away. John 3-16, he wore during Gator games. In the playoff game, winning, he threw for 316 yards, had a 31.6 yards completion rate. Time of possession was 31.6 minutes. The ratings viewership was 31.6. This opened the hearts of many people. **It gave me time to look at my own past and see the miracles, including my own and my sibling’s birth. If you look in your own lives, honestly, you will see miracles no scientist can explain. Sometimes, just when I need something, and pray, it happens. Looking back, it’s happened time and again. God bless.
That is a wonderful and inspiring story! We serve such an imaginative God who lacks nothing and can do all things. What a great blessing that you have realized and witnessed the power of prayer in your own life. Blessings to you!
Thank you for sharing this!
Your welcome!
Wow! This was powerful and exactly what I needed in this season as I joyfully come to terms with the reality that even if no one reads what I write, God is still pleased because I am walking in obedience to Him.
Thank you for being obedient to God and for being a faithful steward.
God bless you richly,
Dammy
Hi Dammy,
That is such a beautiful thought that you wrote here. I have been thinking this same thing as I just published a book and very few have been bought. But it does not matter how many ready what I write, only that I write what the Lord has intended for me to write. Prayers for you as you continue to grow in your ministry of writing. I cannot wait to discover all the things God is pouring out through you.
Blessings always,
Paul
Thank you very much for your kind words Paul. I will be praying for you too. May God be glorified in all we do!
God bless,
Dammy