The Call to Ministry

Here's an excerpt from The Call to Ministry, Geoffrey Thomas' contribution to the November issue of Tabletalk.

Who will possibly stay in a relationship with a girlfriend or boyfriend “until death us do part” unless there is a deep devotion to that one person above all others, a commitment that is based on comprehensive knowledge and respect? That is the essence of marriage, leaving all others and cleaving to one until God shall separate by death.

Who will stay in the Christian ministry for one’s entire working life unless one loves this work above all others, being unable to do anything else than preach the gospel and pastor the people of God to whom he preaches week by week? The Apostle Paul writes about a man who “sets his heart” on this work (1 Tim. 3:1). He is stretching out to make this his life’s supreme calling. He is not talking about selfish ambition for prestige and power but for the high privilege of caring for the people whom the Son of God loved and for whom He suffered the death of the cross. So the first qualification for a lifetime’s commitment to pastoral ministry is a strong inner desire. Our life is offered to God in building up His people and going after the lost until they all, with you, attain the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Continue reading the eight reasons in The Call to Ministry online or get the Tabletalk app and read it on your iPad for free.