Grace & Truth Devotion to God

AAs I crossed the stage, a diploma certifying me as educated to lead people spiritually was put into my hands.

Dr. Mark Rutland shook my hand and said, “Preach the Word, son.” I would take these words to heart. Many days of stress and pain have found their way to my steps, yet these simple words have given me a clear focus to repeatedly step into the prayer closet, pulpit and meeting room.

The apostle Paul writes his last recorded words to his apprentice, Timothy, pronouncing a solemn oath over him. We are not sure of Timothy’s response other than his diligent obedience to the call of Jesus and the teaching of Paul.

2 Timothy 4 says, “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”

After serving in my church for a season, I sought ordination through the Assemblies of God. The General Superintendent from Missouri commissioned my wife and me together to preach the Gospel faithfully.

My pastor from Lakeland, Florida, and Pastor Buddy Denton of Askewville, prayed over me while laying on hands and commissioning us into the ministry. Amanda and I were humbled by the call and inspired by the admonishment of our leaders.

Jesus tells us in the Sermon on the Mount to be wary of making vows quickly. Every minister of the Word must take with highest regard the magnitude of declaring the supremacy of God through preaching and leading.

Our communities do not need men and women who have forgotten our calling, purpose or need. We need those who will live a life worthy of our high calling. Those who know they will give an account for every word. May we declare with joy and total humility that Jesus is powerful enough to change everything!

If you know someone who has lived with deep devotion to the oath they have taken before God, take time to recognize and admonish such people.

Every marriage I perform, I tell the couple that the ceremony will be great memories, but the central focus is exchanging vows. I inform them that they are vowing to God that they will honor one another and not each other.

The vows before God state that I will cherish my wife according to my promise and God’s faithfulness, not my spouse’s. If my vows are based on a fallible person, they may seem voided so long as my performance outexecutes theirs. A marriage will only work if there is no scorekeeping.

The power of oaths is they govern us when people fail. Let God’s presence at your time of decision compel you to remain faithful and steadfast amid a crooked generation and heat of community disagreement.

Not everyone will understand why you must stay true to a statement, but we must live the total weight of our words when we place our hand on the book and, with a sound mind, declare, “I swear that…” or “I promise to….”

Let us take these commitments as divine mandates to which we’ve submitted, and let’s remain faithful, even when we feel the urge to lower the standard.

God gave Paul’s words to Timothy and then crossed generations to speak them over me through great men. I will live this charge all of my days and hopefully get to offer this same admonition to others as I go.

By Thadd White

They are leading our services, watching over our cities, preparing our budgets and treating our illnesses. People who take oaths to perform their duties are all around us.