On The Edge of Your Seat

It was the last day of the last class I would have to take to finish my college degree. All my papers were in and all tests had been taken. The temptation to skip that last class weighed on my mind that night. But there was something to look forward to, something I didn’t want to miss. Our professor, Ken Vandenberg, had promised to bless each of us. That blessing was something I deeply needed.

For two years, I had worked to finish my degree. I was in my mid-30s and entered into a program I had deemed “college for geriatrics.” But I had grown to love the program, my classmates, and a few of my professors—specifically Ken. Ken taught several of the modules over the two years and he developed a strong relationship with our class. Ken was not a very good lecturer and he knew it, so he taught our class like a small group. He’d ask good questions that opened up honest discussions and made room for self-discovery. He built trust and rapport with each person, while he challenged us practically and personally to think through the concepts we learned. We felt known and loved when he taught. So, when he offered to use our last class time together to bless each of us individually, nothing would keep me away. I wanted to hear his final words for our class and, more importantly, for me.

There were fifteen people in that room that night. We sat in a horseshoe facing Ken as he spoke to us. He started with the person on his far left and worked his way across the room using the same pattern with each person. He’d first tell the person what he enjoyed about having them in the class. He then listed the strengths that he learned about that person over the past two years. He’d touch on some areas he saw needed more growth and he looked into the future by saying, “In the future, I can see you_______________.” He’d fill in the blank with words of promise and hope. It was a powerful time in that classroom. Because Ken loved us and knew us, we gave him the authority to speak words of wisdom and encouragement into our lives. Every person sat on the edge of their seats when Ken came to them. We all wanted his wisdom. We craved his blessing in our lives.

Ken’s words to me that night made a lasting and changing impact. I don’t remember every word he said but there was one part that literally brought me to tears. It was something I already knew but I needed to hear it from someone I trusted. He said, “Phil, you’re a people person. All of your practical work in this class has been on how to engage people spiritually in small groups at your church. You are a discipler who needs to be turned loose to care for and spiritually develop others.” Then he paused, looked up from his notes and continued. “Phil, you know that you’re in the wrong line of work. You will never reach your full potential at United Parcel Service. My prayer for you is that God would bless you with a vocation that allows you to minister to others most of your days and most of your weeks.” All of those words were in my heart, but God used Ken to affirm the transition God was preparing me for. I was filled with joy, hope, and terror all at the same time. I look back to that night over 15 years ago and see it as oil placed on the hinge of a door. My life was about to swing open. I knew I needed to pursue a vocation in ministry.

Words are powerful. The words that Ken breathed on me that night made a long lasting, deep impact on me. They gave me guidance, confidence, and passionate hope. What’s interesting to me is that Ken is an imperfect man who certainly doesn’t know everything. Imagine the power of the words breathed on you by a perfect God, who has an infinite capacity to love you, who knows all things about you, and has the power to do anything he pleases for your benefit. If Ken’s words got me sitting on the edge of my seat, what should God’s words do for me?

In Paul’s letter, he wrote words of care and encouragement to his young friend and protégé, Timothy. I bet Timothy read this letter from his spiritual father on the edge of his seat with tremendous anticipation for hope and direction in his life. But Paul encourages Timothy to let God’s Word breath on him, to infuse him, guide him, and correct him. Hear Paul’s love in some of his final words to the young leader he discipled over the years.

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.  2 Timothy 3.14-17

As you begin the New Testament Challenge this week, my prayer is that you read God’s Word from the edge of your seat, with great anticipation for the care and wisdom that God desires to speak into your life. He wants to speak to you through his written Word. You can trust his words. They were written with you in mind.