You have likely heard the question, “What would you do differently if you knew you had a limited time to live?” Various answers have been given. One answer heard fairly frequently is, “Nothing would be different. I would just keep doing what I always do.”
Today is the first official day of my “retirement” from full-time ministry. (In my case, that only means I have traded a weekly preaching appointment in a local congregation for the opportunity to present seminars, workshops, mission work, interim ministry, and to do a lot of guest preaching.) What will I do differently today? Not much. I have already walked. I have an early morning lab appointment. I will hole up in my office and prepare next Sunday’s Bible class. I will work on missions projects and prepare upcoming lessons and sermons. I will translate some materials I have already written from English to Spanish. I will do some Greek reading; I will do some general Bible reading. I plan to drop by the hospital. I will do some website work.
All in all a pretty uneventful day–but a day spent to the glory of God, devoted to advancing the Kingdom Cause around the world. It will not be much different. But….I will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am doing it because I want to and not because I have to.