The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples, that I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple (Isaiah 50:4).
Sadly, but probably characteristically to all people who are in positions involved in large doses of outward-going communication, personal inspiration is often in short supply. Preachers and teachers and coaches and mentors and authors, after all, are typically those who inspire and catalyze and maximize and launch and equip others into larger and grander and deeper and richer and more cultivated spheres of life. To ask those who are normally the dispensers of inspiration how and when and where and why and from whom they seek personal inspiration is rather alien. I know it is for me. I am rarely inspired, which is odd because I seek to inspire others nearly constantly in line with the admonition in Hebrews 10:24—“Let us consider how to stimulate others to love and good deeds.”
Nevertheless, I have been inspired this New Year. But let me be clear, this inspiration did not come as a result of “turning over a new leaf” or a resolution. I have been uncooperatively inspired by providential barrage and sheer repetition. From three different angles in as many weeks this New Year the Lord has seen fit to press certain preacher/teacher/author in front of my face. I caved and found, by default, personal inspiration.
To illustrate the degree to which I was reluctant, but am now enthusiastic, about this unsought-after soul-nourishment consider when and where I am typing madly away at my keyboard. I am blogging this article before I have totally finished sweating from my jog, on one of my few coveted weekday evenings without a meeting. Having given that preface, I have just listened to perhaps the best sermon I have heard in years—on Jacob and Leah called "The Struggle for Love" (Genesis 29)—and “sermon” is my primary language these days. That’s funny because I gave a similar endorsement of another sermon by the same bloke just a few days ago. And that’s funny because I had a similar conversation where this preacher came up with glowing accolades just a few days before that. I hesitate to mention his name outright because I really don’t think it is so much that this man is the most remarkable factor in my recent “dry season” regarding personal inspiration—although he is a true pro (Dr. Timothy Keller, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, New York City)—because I am convinced that the Lord Himself has “awaken[ed] my ear to listen as a disciple” (Isaiah 50:4) more than the man.
I balk at the pattern in which I have been skulking (perhaps for a couple of years?!?), attempting in ministry to “sustain the weary one with a word,” yet without maintaining a posture of a learner; without a reservoir of personal inspiration.
As is always the case, Jesus is better. Our Lord is simultaneously the supremely better teacher and the supremely better disciple, held in powerful balance. By application, being a disciple not only is the beginning of effective disciple making, it is a resultant by-product as well. It is a “morning by morning” process of giving out and receiving in … and it sounds like ministry health.
Check out these free sermons (mp3 format) at www.sermons.redeemer.com or on iTunes under Timothy Keller Podcasts:
“The Struggle for Love,” Genesis 29:15-35, November 11, 2001 #RS 141-3
“The Prodigal Sons,” Luke 15:1-2, 11-32, September 11, 2005 #RS 187-01
“The Wounded Spirit,” Proverbs 12:25 and various others, December 5, 2005, #RS 178-13
“The Cosmic King,” Revelation 1:9-18, May 23, 1993, #RS 41-02
