Keep Your Vows

 Have you ever made a vow to the Lord? Perhaps you were in a crisis and you made a vow that if God would help you out of your distress, then you would do whatever he asked of you. Many do this and do not hold up their end of the vow. What is a vow? It is a solemn promise, a pledge of personal commitment made to another person or to God. 

There are wedding vows. I remember standing at the FBC of Hurst, TX and repeating vows to Brenda to love her and commit to an exclusive marriage relationship with only her. That was a grand day. 35 years later we still honor those vows made back on June 29, 1991. Military people take a vow or an oath to defend the country against foreign enemies as well as domestic enemies. Other vows are made to God. 

I have made two vows to God I try to keep. One is to not go in debt on vehicles ever again. The second vow is the overarching vow that covers my life. I made it at a youth camp I was preaching in Glenrose, TX. The vow is based off of Matthew 16:24. Jesus challenges His followers in that verse to deny self, take up the cross, and follow Him. Here is my vow. "I will go to do anything, anywhere, at anytime God calls me to." Believe me when I say He has called me on that vow numerous times. At times it meant giving away money and once a vehicle. Other times it required moving to a new assignment at a new church. Several times keeping that vow meant meant sacrifice. I was serious when I made the vow two and a half decades ago. I am just as serious about keeping it today. 

Why am I so serious about my vow? It is because of Ecclesiastes 5:4-5. When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you owe! It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. 

God take vows seriously. Much more seriously than many people who make them. We are held accountable for the things we vow to God. He expects us to keep our promise. He expects us to follow through on what we pledge to do. In keeping that vow, I accepted the role as a football coach, an Athletic Director, to teach the Bible in a drug and alcohol detox center, to write books, to spend lots of time alone in prayer, to say no to good opportunities and to say yes to challenging ones. My vow requires a life of surrender. God never has to ask permission to help Himself to my life and assign me a mission. Isn't that the point of Matthew 16:24? It seems to me that we are all called to live that way. 

Be careful what you vow. It would be better not to pledge to God you will do something and not fulfill the vow. We should be more reflective and sober minded in what we promise God we'll do. I wonder how many sitting in worship services are stagnant in their walk with God because they did not honor their promise to Him. Brenda's dad did that. He was called into a Rio Grande River missions ministry. He said he would do it, but got scared and backed out. His life spiraled out of control afterwards sinking into alcoholism and other sinful behavior. He eventually abandoned Brenda's mom while she was pregnant with her youngest daughter. He barely kept contact with them eventually remarrying and having multiple other children. He died in a house fire about 15 years ago. How his life and my wife's life would have been different if Raul Ortiz had kept his vow. I hope we will not make the same mistake.

Wounded Warriors

 From time to time you see wounded warriors. They faced disfigurement or amputation of limbs because of their military service. What is not visible on the outside is the PTSD many suffer daily. War is hard and there are many casualties. 

That is not what I have on my mind today. I sat at lunch yesterday with a group of pastors. In the beginning the talk was superficial. I did not know those other pastors well. I listened a lot. The talk took a dramatic turn at some point. The talk got real. Some deep wounds and burdens were shared. I don't know why, but I got to pray for these other men individually at different times. It was a privilege. I felt their pain. God moved me with compassion for these other wounded soldiers few notice. 

Pastors are expected to have their acts together. Pastors suffer too. They get wounded. Sometimes they give themselves away when they have nothing left to give. They suffer silently because many of them have no one to talk to about their problems. I'm thankful for a great wife who listens and for a band of brothers I lean on heavily in tough times. 

Pastors listen to other's problems. Few take the time to listen to them. Pastors get attacked by people and demonic forces. I wonder if they feel like they are battling alone. Pastors are the object of gossip. People spread lies without confirming the facts. Many times pastors remain silent and do not defend themselves. Sometimes others come to their defense. Pastors struggle with sin like everybody else. They feel the pressure to present a good public image, even if they know the truth is something altogether different. 

Pastors preach their guts out weekly. They do not always see people respond publicly. Many pastors feel like failures. The churches they serve are not growing and the finances are often inadequate. Like I said earlier, they are wounded warriors. They carry heavy loads. They deal with everything from triumphs in life to tragedies. They officiate weddings and funerals. They listen to others who suffer. They pray for their parishioners. They face the weekly pressure of needing to get the next sermon together. Sometimes they get wounded along the way like the two brothers I ate with yesterday. Your pastor needs your prayers and encouragement. You just might be a healing balm for them.