Is This a Waste of Time?

Often when I enter, contribute and explore the world of blogging, I wonder, "Why?"

This takes time. Is it a waste of energy? Is it pure narcissism? Am I trying to do anything besides feed my own ego? No, no, yes.

One of the things that I learned when I was preaching on a regular basis is the focus of a deadline. If I was to stand before a congregation (admittedly very small) on Sunday, I had to be ready. That helped focus my study. If I expected to stand up and proclaim, "Thus saith the Lord!" I had better put in my time. It helped my approach to blogging that I was always speaking to a small group. I am used to it.

A second factor that crosses over from preparing to preach is the blessing that comes from looking deeper. I believe most good preaching speaks to the preacher as much as the congregation. There were many lessons God taught me as I studied that I never had time to share. You cannot get serious about the word without having it touch you. One of the greatest benefits of preaching was the worship of preparing to preach.

A blog is not a sermon, but it is sharing the things the Holy Spirit is whispering to me as I study. Most of what I post is adapted from what I have written in my own personal study files. Even if no other person reads what I write, the discipline moves me down the road of spiritual growth.

Praise God for His many ways of being the Good Shepherd.