Spur

 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Heb 10:24-25

I’m still not clear on exactly why I am the Pastor of Exchange. Why do I get the privilege to speak to 500 people each week? Many of them think it is just a natural, easy thing. It is far from that. It’s pretty overwhelming to think that people listen to what I have to say. That I represent thoughts concerning the creator of the universe. Sometimes I am frightened. Like being on top of a runaway wave, I am along for the ride, trying to keep my head above water.

A few weeks ago at just the right moment, Sam crossed my path and spoke deeply to me. We were talking about how great it is to be part of the things God is doing at exchange. It was one sentence, but it was just what I needed at the time. Sam looked at me with his eyes getting red. In a broken voice he looked at me.

“Keep listening to God and we will be alright.”

It hit my hard. It spurred me on.

Sam, thanks for the words. They were very deep and exactly what I needed at the time. You are what Paul was talking about when he said “let us consider how to spur one another on . . . .”

God, today, let me encourage someone toward love and good deeds. And thanks for the reminder that as long as I listen to you, we will be alright.

[tags]exchange, devotions, Hebrews, Life-Journaling, Bible[/tags]

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This post has 5 comments

  1. Scot,

    I am trying to think if there can be any deeper and more meaningful \”compliment\” paid to a pastor than the one Sam gave you. I don\’t think so. What a challenge it is to do that day after day and week after week. To keep my ego and pride and opinions out of the way and allow the Spirit to lead. To be open to hear His voice and know it is His.

    I sometimes get \”scared\” when I think of how much influence I have on those who listen and the awesome responsibility to make sure it is Him they are listening to. Kinda sorta like a throat strangler at times.

    Keep listening and it will be okay. Great advice. Thanks for sharing it.

  2. Scot,

    Why you are the Pastor of eXchange. Huh, I believe I can give you my answer to that. Because you are a follower of Gods and you are a person! Scot, you go through the same things that all of us do. However, the difference is that many of us are afraid to talk about them. You… you may not say the smartest things and I do NOT always understand what you are saying but I do know that when you talk it is because our Lord gave you the words. Don\’t see yourself as someone who is not smart enough to teach others, instead see yourself as a man. Someone who is like all the rest of us. That, Scot, is why so many people come on Sunday. They know that there is going to be a person teaching them who is not perfect but just like them! Thanks, for being a person and not being afraid to miss-up and admit it, that\’s what I\’m looking for in a pastor and friend!

  3. Scot,

    The reason there are 500 people at exchange is because God gave you a gift, and in listening to Him, you use it, every week. I will agree with Sissy as well, you are just a man (not to be taken as an insult, haha). But that is really comforting. 2 years ago when I was looking for my first church, I was attracted to exchange because you were real. Too many places I visited had a pastor get up front and he just the whole place put him up on this pedestal, and that is a big put off for me. Now, I\’m not saying everywhere I went to was like that, I visited several good churches in the area, but i knew exchange was home from the beginning.

    Anyways, to get back to the point, you have a great gift of speaking, even if it is nerve racking, and you use it to the best of your ability. I\’ve recently been realizing my own gifts (and trust me, much like most of Rose, speech is not one of them, haha) and where God may be calling me to use them. I\’ve come to the conclusion, that just because you have a \”gift\” in an area doesn\’t necessarily mean it comes work/stress free. In fact, I often feel like it is harder work than other things we could do, but God has put in us as a desire for this \”gift\”, so we stick with with.

    O.K. I don\’t know where I\’m going anymore. I guess that is what happens when you write these things at midnight. So, thank you from me on behalf of all 500 of us at exchange for being you and following where God is calling you and using the Gifts he gave you to further advance His kingdom.

  4. Hey Guys,
    Thanks for the kind words and spurring me on! I really am glad to be part of people like you, who just honestly run after God!
    Thanks again!

  5. Spurring… it\’s tough. Especially when you\’re not being spurred yourself.

    Let us help you listen to God by spurring you on, making your position a joy rather than a burden.

    Thanks. I can see why you\’re at eXchange, maybe because I\’ve got a different window to look through. I\’m priviledged to have gotten to be a part of your community if it even has to end after this year when I graduate. These years will hold a new standard for the church I will strive to help thrive in the future.

    God bless,
    ~Scott

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