LIFELINK Devotional

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

It was January of 1987. My wife and I were living in Watertown, South Dakota where I worked full-time as a program manager of KWAT radio, and also served as a pastor of a small rural church of 120 people. Jesus had made it clear to me and Denise that He had prepared us to go into full-time ministry and let go of any dependence on secular employment for family support. We took the first step of obedience by traveling to Augusta, Wisconsin to evaluate a small Baptist church there and to be evaluated by them as a potential pastor.

After a wonderful weekend of ministry and meeting people, and seeing the potential for Gospel ministry, our minds started to think through the dramatic changes that would take place if we accepted this position. We would be moving from an urban to a rural environment, and leaving friendships that had developed over the previous eight years. Our financial situation would be dramatically altered. There was nothing from a human perspective that made much sense.

On the trip home, we were on top of the Knapp hill on Interstate 94, and I looked over at Denise, who with tears in her eyes, said, “We’re moving here, aren’t we?”

I responded affirmatively, even though I knew there would be two weeks before the congregation would meet to make the decision to call us. When they did, we accepted, and we have been in the Chippewa Valley ever since except for fourteen months of continuing spiritual development for me.

When Jesus says go, the response of authentic faith is to go.

“Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.”  John 4:50

What step of faith is Jesus asking you to take, even though it makes no sense from a human perspective?

Pastor John