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The Ministries of John "BJ" Hall

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Since January 18, 2015

The Difference

By Evangelist John BJ Hall

I had allowed my spiritual life to become dormant. How could I, a preacher, allow that to happen? I got busy doing things for the Lord and the church. Corrie Ten Boom said it best when she said, “If the devil cannot make us bad, he will make us busy.”

I found this to be true in my life. I always knew that I was not as “good” as other ministers. So in order to compensate, I went into overdrive “doing” church. If someone were to call late at night the church office, I was probably going to answer the phone.

Even though we had a church secretary, I was the one who typed up the prayer reports for the “714 Club” prayer ministry. I was the one who shortchanged his family time, because “Church” came before family. I had to be the good preacher and drop whatever was happening at home because somebody “needed me.”

I did not realize that a part of my responsibility to my Lord, included responsibility to my family. I had forgotten that my family is my partner in ministry. I have forgotten that they needed me just as much as the person on the phone at 2:00 am.

Colossians 2:13-15 (KJV) says, “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14  Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15  And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”

The work-a-holic in me thought that by my doing, I was being faithful to Christ. The “handwriting of ordinances” was not bringing joy into my home.

I needed an awakening. I needed a wakeup call. My health broke about the same time that I left the pastorate. That was what I needed. I was able to focus on prayer, Bible study, and worship more than I had in years. I no longer had to be in performance mode. It took several years for it to make a true difference in my life. But I am so glad it did.

Frankly, I believe that my family sees that difference as well.

 

The Difference

My life was filled with selfishness.
I was filled up with pride.
I thought the whole world I could bless
If they’d stand by my side.

I worked and tried my best to give
The world a better day.
I tried a good clean life to live,
What better price to pay?

But in my house my family knew.
They’d see me fuss and fight.
And people in the world saw too,
Something was just not right.

But I have bowed unto the Lord
And asked Him to forgive,
For I can no longer afford
Without His power to live.

No longer do I live alone,
With aching heart so sore;
For God's own power to me, He’s shown.
It’s Him I’m living for.

And now the difference I can feel.
In Jesus my heart burns
For other’s souls now to appeal,
Until sin their heart spurns.

“For me to live is Christ,” Paul said,
“To die it would be 
gain.”
Now my heart is no longer dead
And I can say the same.

 

© Copyright 1995 by Passages Ministries. All rights reserved.
For permission to use this poem contact Passages Ministries.

 

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