THE HIGHEST CALL IN MINISTRY!

THE HIGHEST CALL IN MINISTRY
I was sitting at a gathering not long ago and the clergy started to mingle and introduce themselves. The scene went something like this:

"Hello, I am Evangelist So & So". To which the man respnded, "Evangelist? You're just an evangelist? My name is ELDER Such and Such!" Another brother was seated close by and he didn't like the way the evangelist was spoken to and he walked up to "Elder Such and Such" and said, "I am Bishop Blah-Blah-Blah" and I outrank both of you. (Some in the clergy know that it is nothing for one of us to walk up to the other and call them "Doctor" - "Bishop" and such and it just be harmless banter between friends. -- This wasn't that kind of fun!) Elder Such and Such was offended and told Bishop Blah-Blah-Blah that he was just throwing his title around. The conversation got heated and all three walked away angry. I couldn't help but think about my former pastor Bishop Grover L. Mc Crea. He told us that someone who hadn't seen him in a long time and didn't know that he was a bishop walked up to him and said, "Hello Brother McCrea, it's good to see you." The people around Bishop McCrea quickly corrected his long lost friend and said, "No this is Bishop Grover McCrea" to which Bishop responded, "It is fine. I do well to be called Brother."

My former pastor walked worthy of the office of bishop and all of us who knew him called him bishop out of love, respect, reverence and honor because of his life, his walk, his integrity, his high standard of holiness, his knowledge of the Word, his love for God, his love for the Word of God and his love for the people -- both in and outside of the Church. It was an honor to call a man of this type Bishop. He was walked worthy of the office but he always felt that his highest callings were these:

1. Servant of God and Servant of the People
2. Friend of God
3. Man of Prayer
4. Lover of Souls
5. Lover of the Word of God
6. Praiser
7. Brother Beloved

There is nothing wrong with walking in the callings of God. There is nothing wrong with being mantled with a title that identifies your office, your mantle or your standing with God and the people but I learned from a mighty man of God that the highest callings are not those with titles. They are the calls that cause God and man to see our heart for God and man. They are the calls that show that we are indeed friends of God, servants of God and passionate seekers of His Word, His presence, His approval, His anointing and His love.

I pray that as you walk today that you will consider what the people call you, what you call yourself but then take a moment and ask, "What does God call me?" If you are His friend, His servant, His vessel, His beloved and a brother/sister to those in the Body of Christ, then you are walking in the highest call of all!

Grateful to be a servant/friend of God,
Rev. L.A. Artis, CEO
L.A. Artis Ministries, Inc.
http://laartisministries.org

"From the Heart of Artis"
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