Until we are glorified in Heaven, none of us will be sinless, but we should increasingly sin-less until that day. None of us will have perfect wisdom, but we should be growing and conforming and applying God’s Word to our lives and growing incrementally if not exponentially.
Paul writes to Timothy, “All scripture is breathed out by
God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training
in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good
work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) When something is complete, it is lacking nothing and is ready for the purpose for which it was made, and
this is Paul’s goal for Timothy and God’s goal for you, “those whom he foreknew
he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.” (Romans 8:29)
Chaplain, your calling is to grow in the grace of Jesus
Christ, to be the best chaplain, pastor, man, husband, father, account manager,
supervisor, counselor, advisor, evangelist, author, communicator, etc. etc. etc.
ad nauseum, you can be.
What more can he say than to you he has said, to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled? Fear not! and be not dismayed, for I am thy god, and will still give thee aid; I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, upheld by my righteous omnipotent hand. ~ John Rippon, How Firm a Foundation
Key Verse: Not that I have already obtained this or am
already perfect, but I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus made me
his own. ~ Philippians 3:12
More:
1. It’s common in the military to meet people who have no idea how
to do laundry, how to keep up with their finances, or how to interact with
others. The easy option, which far too many people do, is to ridicule them, but the chaplain option is to
realize that they are NOT perfect because they are lacking every good thing
that Christ has promised to those who trust in him. Chaplain, don’t just strive
for perfection yourself, help others to see the measure of perfection in Jesus
Christ, then help them towards him, so that he may present them perfect on the last day. Do you know any such people?
2. Sometimes you’ll get those big questions: How do I become a
minister? How do I love my wife better? How to I become a better father? How do
I redeem this pile of rubble that is my life? But don’t despise the day of
small things! Helping someone learn how to tie their shoes, or create an
excel spreadsheet, or say a biblical name, or use a circular saw, or run a
meeting are all ways you are ensuring that we are not lacking in anything, but
equipped for every good work. The temptation is to think that we are just as bad off as everyone around us, but that negates the grace that has been given to you already to be conformed to Christ. What has he equipped you with so that you can you teach someone today?
3. The adage said, “Jack of all trades, master of none.” The
truth is that the chaplain should be a “jack of all trades, master of one (pointing
people to Christ, midwifes in the rebirthing process), well on his way to master of all.” Hudson Taylor said, “A
small thing is a small thing, but faithfulness in a small thing is a great
thing.” What is a trade that would be useful for your ministry that you
struggle with? How can you fulfill what is lacking so that you can be closer to perfection? Can you start it now?
4. References:
Begg, Alistair. Made for His Pleasure. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2018.
Benge, Janet and Geoff Benge. Eric Liddell: Something Greater than Gold. Seattle: YWAM Publishing, 2015.
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