Sign Me Up!

Now to the eternal King, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen. (First Timothy 1:17)

In this past Sunday’s sermon Rev. Ronald Benjamin (Pastor Benjie) shared, and I paraphrase, The soul delivered from disillusionment enlists in service to the King and offers up worship to the eternal King. In this phrase, Pastor Benjie hinted at the dual imagery of a soldier and a priest.

What are some of the characteristics of a person who has chosen to enlist? What are some of the characteristics of a priest engaged in the rites of worship?

·         Loyalty – Soldiers and priests carry out the orders of their Commanding Officer and reject the command of any opposing entity.

·         Accuracy – soldiers and priests are conscious of the rules and regulations of their order, knowledgeable about the way their individual role fits into the larger picture, and consistent in the application of role to task.

·         Uniformity – the soldier’s personal preference for how to dress is subsumed by the need to be identified as a member of a larger unit; the priest chooses to wear vestments (literal and/or figurative) which allow others to easily identify the priest as a servant in the kingdom of God.

·         Dependability – members of the larger unit (whether military or spiritual) can trust that the soldiers and priests have all subscribed and given allegiance to a known code of conduct… and that they are bound to carry out said code.

Pastor Benjie, who did not preach in vestments this past Sunday, nonetheless identified himself as a man enlisted in service to the King and engaged in worship of the King. He said: “And even when no sound is coming out of my mouth, my thoughts are on Him.” What an identification of enlistment and worship! When we are given over to a cause, when we are sold out, then our words and actions and thought life show the world who we are and where we stand.

Our guest pastor shared with us that in First Timothy 1:17, the apostle Paul breaks out in praise to the One who rescued him. For the reader of First Timothy, there is no doubt as to where Paul’s loyalty stands. For the persons who attended Sunday’s English-language services, there is no doubt as to where Pastor Benjie stands. We have seen ancient and modern instances of men who are zealous and passionate in their loyalty to Christ Jesus. We who are believers are happy to be counted among the faithful.

Today, you and I might encounter other people via phone, in person, or through technological means. Will they have any doubt as to where we stand and Who we serve?