Ten years ago, this Friday, marks the anniversary of my Ordination.

“It’s hard to believe it has only been 10 years” and in the next breath I can honestly say, “It’s been ten years already?”

I will never forget my ordination. It was a very special evening service at Grace Presbyterian Church in West Hill. The choir sang my favourite hymns and the Transforming Grace band played a song or two as well!

Friends and mentors read Scripture, preached, encouraged and prayed over me. I was asked the "Constitutional Questions" and in response I reaffirmed my faith in Christ and my commitment to serve Him with my whole life.

Then, dozens of leaders gathered around me as I knelt. I will never forget the weight and warmth of their hands upon me as they prayed for the power of the Spirit to fill me. After countless handshakes and hugs all around I was proclaimed to be an "ordained minister of the Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church in Canada.” What an incredible evening that was!

It was a big deal — and the "bigness" of the service and the richness of the traditions involved made an impact on my soul — an impact that remains to this day.

Yes, it's right and good to set certain people apart for special ministries of preaching, teaching, and administering the sacraments or ordinances. But the Spirit has been poured out on all people, all believers are God's "holy priests” (check out 1 Peter 2:5-10).

Jesus said in John 15:16,

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

We have been chosen and ordained by God to be fruitful! God has ordained every believer in Christ to be able to produce fruits in everything they do.

The word “to ordain” means “to appoint” or “to place” in a position to be productive.

That means bearing fruit requires spiritual empowerment. Ordination is endowment with spiritual ability to do what you are ordained to do.

Galatians 5:22 gives us an excellent list of spiritual fruit “but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control “.

You are ordained to show love. You are ordained to be kind, good and faithful.

You, and I are ordained to be fruitful in everything we do today!

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