My dear son,
I realize you will be serving Christ in a world far different than the one where I was trained and first released into ministry. Your methods, your dress, your vocabulary, the technologies you use and even the problems you face may have little in common with the world I knew, or even the world in which we both minister today. You will be a faithful servant of Christ not because you mimic my words or imitate my ministry style, but because you live out the timeless values we share – values that come to us from the Word of God and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. So while I still have the opportunity, I want to take a few minutes to summarize in writing the values and life lessons I have attempted to live out before you and most want to pass on to you…
Always remember your King, Jesus. He loves you so much that He left the comforts of heaven to come here as a baby, to grow up amidst sin and pain, and to be rejected and die for you. He’s now alive and has forgiven you, adopted you as His son, and even lives inside of you. He did all this because He really values you and is in love with you. Live every day to fall more and more in love with our awesome King. I have found that the more I spend time with Him and get to know Him, the more I love Him. You know that we get to know Him through His word, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. Commit yourself to getting to know the King by knowing and understanding the Bible, individually and in community, while there is breath in your lungs. May you never lose the awe of how wonderful He is. Always remember that Jesus is your King. He’s the boss of your life. I have found that life is most satisfying when I’m living to serve and please Him. I have struggled to want to please other people, but know that only one person matters, and that’s our king. You will be tempted to do things you want to do, things other people want you to do, or things you think other people want you to do. Always ask the King what He wants you to do, listen for His voice, then do it, no matter where it takes you or what the cost is to you. He’s the King.
Always remember that your King loves people other than you. He died for them, too, so try to see them the way He does. Love these people, listen to them, care for them, rub shoulders with them, experience life with them. Don’t keep the King to yourself, but talk about Him all the time. MAKE time to seek after people who don’t know the King and lovingly convince them to follow Him. Help people to grow in their love and obedience to Him. Commit yourself to caring for people like a shepherd does. All this starts with your own family. Don’t forget them! Then let the King guide you to the people He wants you to serve.
Always remember that your King didn’t do things alone, but had others around Him. Realize that you need other people, and other people need you. Learn to work together with others, because together we can do great things for the King. Don’t compete against others on the King’s team, but work together to accomplish what He wants.
In closing, make your life all about loving and serving our great King!
Your brother and fellow servant
Mark Ritzman