PRAYER†FORCE

3/09/10

A Ph.D. candidate at the University of Southern California was eager for the title of ‘doctor’ – until one newly degreed professor shared his story. He said: A friend had called his home and asked, “Is the doctor in?” The Professor’s 10-year-old son replied, “Yes, but he’s not the kind of doctor that can do you any good.”

Credentials are important. When we see the letters: Ph.D., M.D., DDS., D.Min., these titles indicate that the person bearing those letters is valuable to us as individuals, or to society at large. These credentials indicate that an authorized organization of individual has placed their stamp of approval on that person. When I do into a hospital, I wear a badge that identifies me as a pastor at Crossroads Christian Church. It gives me access, day or night, to the patients and facilities of the hospital. When I try to go into a prison setting, initial access usually requires that I produce an ordination certificate. So what would we expect to see, if God were to put his stamp of approval on someone? The Lord made Ruth only one of two women who had a Bible book named after her. She was one of only 3 women who appeared in the family genealogy of Jesus. God was impressed with her because she was a hard-worker, she was very humble, she was not self-centered, she valued relationships with the people in her life, she was open to change and she had a servant’s heart. This is the kind of person that impresses God – whether male or female. But, before you can truly impress God, you must make the decision that Ruth made when she first considered leaving with Naomi. You must decide that ‘your people will be my people and your God will be my God.’

Pray with me…. Our Loving and Faithful Father in heaven, we want to be recognized by You. We want to be known by you. We want to be approved by You. We want to be Yours. And so we choose you, even as you first chose us to belong to you in Jesus Christ. In His name, amen.

Yours for Christ and Crossroads,

Ken Idleman