Alistair Begg and the first thing...

I had the blessed opportunity just now to watch an interview with one of the pastors I respect most, Alistair Begg (http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2012/03/15/alistair-begg-inadequacy-the-surprising-secret-to-being-useful-to-god/). At one point (around 36 minutes) the interviewers ask him about his “secret” in terms of staying at the same church for so long (28 years or so). The question is framed in light of the fact that Begg hails from Scotland but now ministers in Cleveland, Ohio, a seemingly unlikely place to land. In his characteristic way, Begg gives a beautifully humble response, including this statement: “The first thing [with regard to where you will serve] is being in the place of God’s appointing.” It was a wonderful reminder, particularly coming from a man of Begg’s experience and gifting, that GOD, not the man, is the central figure in determining where a pastor will serve. This is a much needed truth for all our hearts (not just pastors’) as we perhaps tend to always be looking for the “next best thing” rather than the place of God's own choosing.

From the archive

“Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving…” Colossians 4:2

No Christian is completely unaware of the duty and privilege he enjoys in prayer. Yet ,often, he might as well be in the dark to this wondrous gift, seeing as he makes so little use of it. Indeed, it is not infrequently noted that among spiritual exercises, prayer is often the last and least engaged in, the first and most ignored. Why is this so? Why is our devotion to prayer so notoriously slight? To start, and to be plain, we are lazy. Prayer is real work, and no sooner have we bowed our knees than we have become weary with the task and toil before us. Also, we are devoted to so many other lesser engagements. Whether it is toil of another, earthly sort, or entertainment, or even religious activity, there is always something to steal our attention from the more important pursuit, and so we find ourselves strangers to the throne of grace we have been granted such unhindered access to. This betrays our ungratefulness toward, as well as our ignorance of, that which was required to secure for sinners such an audience with the Almighty: namely, the blood of Christ. Would we miss out on any benefit wrought for us by the Savior’s sacrifice? Would we spurn any gift bought that day on Calvary? We would, every time we dismiss prayer as a priority.