YOU’RE TOO YOUNG

Good Friday to You…a day late, 
Yep…that’s what we looked like the Spring I graduated from seminary. I was 25 with 4 ½ years of marriage under my belt. Those were both challenging and rewarding years of life and ministry. My life was full of “firsts.” I performed my first wedding. I conducted my first funeral. Carol Ann gave birth to our first child. We bought our first new car. We renovated our first home. We experienced our first serious “church battle.” I received my first “church scar.” 
In those early years of firsts, I frequently heard the phrase, “You’re too young to be a pastor.” It was nearly the universal response I heard after answering the “What do you do for a living?” question. It was only mildly irritating, because I fully recognized that I didn’t fit the image of the traditional American pastor. “He” was pictured as an older, mellow gentleman with some (or all) grey hair. Not me. I even had one man come to the parsonage (a church owned house), and after he looked at me, asked to speak with my father! 
It’s interesting how quickly we use the “What do you do for a living?” question when we meet someone new. It’s often one of the first questions we ask. We use it to categorize that person in our minds (“Oh, you’re one of those…”). In some ways, it’s a fair question because what we do 40+ hours per week represents a big chunk of our lives. However, what you do does not define you!
This week, we have the privilege of considering Jesus’ declaration of who we are and how that guides what we do. Your identity and purpose is not defined by your job title. You receive those from Jesus along with the mission He has entrusted to us. You can take look for yourself by reading what is commonly called the Great Commission. I am already looking forward to sharing some inspiring truths discovered in those words of Jesus! 
Hope to See You Sunday, 
Pastor Michael 
P.S. By the way, nobody says, “You’re too young to be a pastor” to me anymore. I wonder why…lol