THE GLORY AND HONOR OF MINISTRY

Ted Schroder

This coming Sunday Amelia Plantation Chapel is celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of my ordination to the Christian ministry. As these wonderful people, whom I have loved, prayed for and sought to serve for nearly eighteen years, seek to honor the work Antoinette and I have been privileged to do, with the enabling and protection of the Holy Spirit, my mind is drawn to a hymn that I learned in my youth. The words are attributed to Ada Whiddington and A.B. Simpson.

Not I, but Christ, be honored, loved, exalted;

Not I, but Christ, be seen be known, be heard;

Not I, but Christ, in every look and action,

Not I, but Christ, in every thought and word.

 

Not I, but Christ, to gently soothe in sorrow;

Not I, but Christ, to wipe the falling tear;

Not I, but Christ, to lift the weary burden!

Not I, but Christ, to hush away all fear.

 

Not I, but Christ, in lowly, silent labor;

Not I, but Christ, in humble, earnest toil;

Christ, only Christ! no show, no ostentation!

Christ, none but Christ, the gath’rer of the spoil.

 

Christ, only Christ, ere long will fill my vision;

Glory excelling, soon, full soon, I’ll see–

Christ, only Christ, my every wish fulfilling–

Christ, only Christ, my All in all to be.

Amen.

Thank all of you, my readers, whom I also call my friends, for giving me the opportunity to share the Gospel of Christ with you. I am always encouraged to hear from those who have been helped by my words over the years. Only this morning I had a visit from a ninety two year old who shared with me how Jesus became real to him one Sunday when I was preaching. I also had a telephone call from a friend who told me that she would not have survived over the past few months without the aid of reading my daily devotional SOUL FOOD. If you have been helped over the years you can share your testimony in the Comments section of this blog. Give God the glory. Not I but Christ!