Monday Morning Manna: It Just Keeps Getting Better

It was several decades ago this month, having sensed the call of God on my life, I was licensed to the Gospel ministry by the West End Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, where my father was Pastor. Shortly thereafter, I enrolled in Howard Payne College, to major in Bible, and prepare for the ministry. In my Senior year, I was called to be Pastor of the Robinson Springs Baptist Church, near DeLeon, Texas and ordained to the ministry by the First Baptist Church in Nacogdoches, Texas, where my father was then pastor. Many years have come and gone, as have the places and specifics of my ministry. However, I can affirm today, serving God has been an ever-increasing blessing. Were there times that were more difficult than others? Yes. Were there times less rewarding than others? No. Numerous songs have been written with the lyrics, “It just keeps getting better” but in the first decade of my ministry, Bill Gaither wrote and recorded: “The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows, the more that I love Him, more love He bestows.” Had I been a musician, I might have written those same words, or something similar. However, that which God said to Ezekiel, could have been said to me: “I will … do better for you than at your beginnings. Then you shall know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 36:11). I can testify, while the beginnings were exciting and challenging, serving God is better today, than it was then.

Dr. Dan Crawford, Senior Professor at Southwestern Baptist Seminary, is the WestCoast Baptist Association’s Spiritual Life & Leadership Mentor. Follow Dan on Twitter @DrDanRC and Facebook www.facebook.com/dan.crawford.