Pastor’s Corner

April 2026

“It is not great talents God blesses so much as great likeness to Jesus. A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God.” -Robert Murray M’Cheyne

I came across the quote recently, and at first I was simply struck by how differently we use language now. Awful used to mean “full of awe” or “wonder” or “something admired.” But now we use it for something sad or bad or wrong. And, of course, minister in this context simply means a servant of God - every single Christian. But because I was thinking about this I started to think about the whole quote. It is a simple truth that we would all agree with in theory, but that I think we still have trouble with in practice. Talent is not what makes someone great - but being faithful. This is especially hard to grasp in our world today. The best way to get ahead in every possible sphere of life is through talent, notoriety, status. But for the life that matters - eternal life with the living God - talent means nothing. Jesus alone takes us there. And for those who submit to that truth - they are used mightily in the hand of God. Maybe not by worldly standards, but by the standards of the Kingdom: a holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God. A sword is only as useful as its sharpness. A dull blade, no matter how strong, no matter how ornate, cannot cut through the toughest obstacles. A believer, no matter how gifted, cannot be fully used by God unless humbly refined in holiness.

"Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work." — 2 Timothy 2:21

Pastor Billy