Service & Experience

Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the Lord had done for Israel.

Joshua 24:31

There is something almost mystical, almost magical about serving Christ. Somehow when we seek to serve the Lord he allows us to see his power, his faithfulness, his mercy, grace and forgiveness in ways we might not normally experience them. 

It's that place where God works in our lives in such a way that by faith we know that it is God. There is a difference from when you hear about God providing for someone else and when he provides for you. Your testimony is yours. Remember how God revealed his love for you to you, how he forgave your sins and you gave you life to him? That is where God became real. 

Lord, I pray that we would experience all that you do and that we would serve you throughout our lives. I pray that our children and their children, until you come again, will experience everything you do and serve you throughout their lifetimes too. Praise be to you in us today!

The Two Sides of Imitation

You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 

1 Thessalonians 1:6-7

Imitation can have two sides. One one side you imitate someone you admire and on the other side someone imitates you. The Thessalonians first imitated Paul and his team and then naturally became examples to other Christians. 

When I was in elementary school I loved recess because we would play whatever sport was in season. I remember playing football and everyone would imitate whoever they thought was a good player. At the time, and I am dating myself here, there were a few people I liked to try to run like. One was Larry Csonka and the other was O.J. Simpson. Csonka had the power and O.J. the moves and speed. I would get the ball, call out the person's name I thought I was running like and then go at it! 

As a Christian there has been a few people I have found to be worthy of imitation. Humility and a servants heart are the two qualities I admire. Godly humility is knowing who you are in Christ, and that you are who you are by the grace of God. Christlike serving is serving others, even those who don't appreciate it. 

One last thought is that Paul said that the Thessalonians "welcomed the message in the midst of suffering". The implication is that following Christ is not always easy, rather, to the contrary, it is often difficult. There will be trials. There will be tests. Christ leads us to victory, but, there will be warfare. Paul, endured everything from shipwrecks to imprisonment, dealing with false teachers (seeking to undermine his work) to be stoned and left for dead. Yet, he pressed on and fought the good fight, spreading the gospel wherever he could. Who did he imitate? Christ. 

Take the Land

Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly. 

Joshua 14:13-14

The question is: what land has God given you to take? 

Caleb asked Joshua to give him the land so he could drive out, the Lord helping him, the Anakites. He didn't focus on the enemy, he focused on the promise and the Lord his God who made the promise to be with him in the battle. 

Sometimes we want the victory but we don't want the battle. That's one of the awful fruits of living in the land of entitlements, we begin to think good things are just given to us without cost. No, God calls us to battle, to labor, to seek, to knock, to find, to love and to serve. Like Caleb we need to be willing. 

So back to the question: what land has God given you to take?

Be Ready

I don't know if it's going to be tomorrow or the next day, but God does want to use you to do the most amazing work of all and that is encourage someone to become a Christian. Maybe you will sow a seed, you might water it or you might bring in the harvest. Just be ready. Be willing. Be aware. God will do amazing things among us!

Who do you please?

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as  working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.  - Colossians 3:23-24

Just a simple thought: Work hard, work for the Lord, look forward to the reward and remind yourself you're serving Jesus, not man. 

I know most of us have jobs with managers and  supervisors who are not following Christ. Some are good people, some are not. More often than not I hear people complaining about how self serving and incompetent their bosses are. Yet, God still calls us to serve him in our jobs, right where we are at, regardless of the morality of those we work with.  We work to please the Lord, not men.

It's nice to be appreciated, but that doesn't always happen. What is good to know is that if you work hard and try to live as Christ would have you live you can end the day knowing he is pleased. And in the end that is what really matters. 

Mercy, Reverence and Service

In Christ God has heard our cry for mercy. In fact, he saw our need for mercy before we even came into existence. In Christ God has forgiven us of all our sins. Past, present and future. He nailed that record to the cross (Colossians 2:14) and triumphed over death and sin. 

Forgiveness does not give us license to sin, rather it opens our hearts to reverence. We stand in awe at the foot of the cross, knowing that the nails in his hands in feet, and all that he endured restores us to the Father and sets us in his kingdom as light in the darkness of this world. 

In that reverence we serve him where we are today. From home to work, school to sports, whatever you do, do it as unto the Lord, serving wholeheartedly. 

Look Where You're Going

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 

Colossians 3:1-2

Where I live, for many drivers who I share the road with, it seems that turn signals have become optional. Or, for some, activating the turn signal only means they are turning, not necessarily in the direction their turn signal is indicating. What seems to be a much more reliable indicator of which way someone is turning is the direction they are looking. If I can see that the driver is looking right, even though their turn signal points left, they are probably turning right. 

Now, I'm not saying all that just to complain about the way some people drive. What I want to point out is that, for the most part, you go where you look. Naturally, when you turn your head your body follows. Try walking straight while looking ninety degrees to the right or left. Your body naturally starts to go where you are looking. 

Applying that to these wonderful verses in Colossians we understand that if we focus on Christ, on knowing him and loving others like he loved us, we will live as he wants us to live and enjoy the fruit of living in the Spirit. It's not really complicated. But, what about work? Listen, my job isn't studying the Bible. I'm an educator. Later in the chapter Paul tells the Colossians, "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Col. 3:17) What I do today, I will do as a servant of Christ, serving other teachers and students. My desire is to be Christlike. What I do may not be "spiritual" but I look to the Lord to give me the strength, wisdom and skill I need to my job to the best of my ability. So, do what you do in the strength of the Lord and then thank him for whatever he does in and through you. Set your mind on things above...

Build Up and Keep Up

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Jude 1:20-21

These verses are the "to do" in response to scoffers during the end times. I'm struck that we are not told to argue for or defend our beliefs. We are instructed to build ourselves up in our most holy faith and keep ourselves in God's love. 

I don't want to get into a theological discussion of the end times. I do think the author was writing to a problem that, at least in some sense, was already occurring. Whether you believe we are in the end times or not, you know we live in a world that openly mocks and despises Christianity and all those who believe in Christ. You can have crazy hair and believe in ancient aliens but, not in the historical Christ. That's the world be live in.

What are we to do? Build yourself up, build each other up. Pray in the Spirit. Keep yourself in God's love. Wait for his mercy to bring you to eternal life. Our faith is built upon knowing Christ. We know Christ because of what we read about him in the Bible and how we trust him in our daily lives. Christ loved us first. We love first. He served. We serve. We don't serve and love just those who might love and serve us reciprocally.  We love and serve everyone. That's were faith really comes into action and becomes real and alive. By faith we wait upon his mercy and by faith we show mercy and the love of God builds us up in our most holy faith. Be build up and keep up brothers and sisters in Christ!

It's Time to Rally Together

   Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies. So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” And all the Levites rallied to him.

Exodus 32:25-26 NIV

The situation was out of control. There was no time for a committee, the time for instruction was long past. Moses assessed things and saw that it was time to draw a line and call out to see who was for the Lord. 

It's time to assess our lives. It's time to listen to the Spirit's call. The world is out of control, calling evil good and good evil. If you are for the Lord, come to Him. We're not coming to a leader, unless the leader is calling us to follow Christ. Like the Levites we must cross that line and decide to be for the Lord. 

Now, I have no desire to start an in house church witch hunt or stir up dissension by saying that "some Christians" or "some churches" or "some pastors" water down the gospel. The truth is some do. The truth is, sometimes I do. Sometimes my actions speak louder than my words and I and standing on the wrong side of that line.  There are times when we must assess our lives, assess our churches, assess our beliefs and actions. What side of the line are we on? 

This is not a call to point out what everyone else is doing wrong. This is an admonition to check yourself and see if you are loving like Christ loved you. Are we worshipping the god of "I got to have it now" (debt, credit cards), the god of "self" or the god of "desire"? Christ is about giving not spending, serving others not your own needs, and seeking to protect and help someone else not use them for your own pleasure or benefit. And this is not about being alone, it's about rallying together as the time draws closer for our Savior to come again. Together we worship the Lord. Together we serve and reach out into the darkness of this dying world with the light of the truth in Christ. 

Why Were You Purchased?

And they sang a new song, saying: 
“You are worthy to take the scroll
   and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
   and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language 
   and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom 
   and priests to serve our God,
   and they will reign on the earth.”

Revelation 5:9-10 NIV

I'm going to take a few days and highlight a few of the peaks into eternity provided for us in Revelation. Focusing on eternity is good for us because it helps us see our present circumstances in their true place. 

One of the scenes of worship we are shown Christ, the Lamb who was slain, is receiving praise because with his blood he purchased persons for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. That's us. Our redemption was costly and purposeful. Christ paid for us with his blood and we became his priests, serving him here on earth. Think about that. Christ didn't redeem you without a purpose. He did redeem you to be part of his kingdom and to reign with him here on earth. It does not matter who you were before your redemption, you are now a priest, tasked with reconciling the people you know to God. 

Every day is an opportunity for the Spirit of the Living God to work in and through you. Be ready. Be aware of any opportunity to represent Christ to a dying world. You don't have to give a full on testimony and alter call to every person you come in contact with. You just have to be ready and willing to love as Christ loved you. Whatever you do in Jesus' Name, he will honor and use. Maybe that simple kind word is a crack in the hardened shell around someones heart. It could be helping someone with some small task will lead to opening a door to share the gospel latter. Just serve. Just love. Trust God with the results.

So, my fellow priest, where does Christ have you serving today?  

This Is How We Love

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

1 John 3:16-18 NIV

I think this world struggles to know what love really is. I think sometimes we as Christians overthink it at times. I read a post the other day where someone was writing that in a relationship you needed to look for someone who sought to fulfill your needs, not just their own. It reminded me of one of my professors from college, way back in the day. He said that the problem with many relationships was it was just two people trying to get their needs met, which is like two ticks without a dog.

Christianity is not about getting our needs met. In Christ, we realize some needs are met now in Christ and others won't be fully realized until we see him face to face. Now, we get a glimpse, when we see Christ in glory we'll see it all. Christianity, as one person put it - the upside down kingdom - calls us to die to ourselves and put others first. Love is seeing an actual need and meeting it. 

One of my friends was struggling financially a few years ago and I happened to have a few dollars I felt I should use for God somehow. I got him the money anonymously. He told me that someone gave him some money and it wasn't a lot but it was a real answer to prayer because he was able to buy some food for he and his daughters. Now, I'm not trying to glorify myself because I know my own sinfulness, but, what I am trying to point out is that whatever we do in Jesus' Name will bear eternal  fruit. The point is that sometimes we see a need and we do what we can. I knew the money I gave my friend wasn't going to take away his financial problems, but, God will do what he wants with what we give. That is love. 

Here, Jesus told me to give this to you...

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 4:10-11 NIV

I think a word we often overlook is "others". Our gifts are means by which we serve others, or serve Christ by serving others. Whatever we do we are doing that gift (administering it) to others, in Jesus' Name. Some people are naturally "there you are" people while others are "here I am" people. If you are a "there you are" person the issue won't normally be able putting others first, you just may struggle with pseudo - humility. You know, the I'm not good enough stuff. In Christ, you are. 

If you are a "here I am" person the issues will probably center around you and thoughts of people noticing your selfless, humble service to Christ and others. It's not about you, it's about Christ.

We forget that God gave us each gifts and our responsibility is to give those gifts to others saying, "Here, Jesus told me to give this to you." 

Because, That's Why

How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! 

For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

Hebrews 9:14-15 NIV (emphasis mine)

When I was a kid we used to have stupid arguments and sometimes one person would say, "Ya, but why?" and the other person would say, "Because, that's why." Now, the message of Hebrews, especially in these verses, is not some silly argument, rather, it one of crucial importance to our faith. 

The writer of Hebrews takes chapters six, seven, eight, nine and ten, to solidify in our hearts and minds the truth about the ministry of Christ as our High Priest. Christ's sacrifice sets us free from sin. His blood cleansed us so that we can serve him, the living God. 

Our conscience, sometimes paralyzes us. We fixate on the act of our sin. We need to fixate on the act of Christ. His sacrifice, which was once for all. For me, one truth that I must remember is that Christ didn't die to give me a second chance to be good enough, he died to cleanse me from all sin, so that I might serve the living God. If I am cleansed then I need to be focusing on serving him, not being good enough to serve him. 

Grace: We Serve, He Blesses

There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 

1 Corinthians 12:5-7 NIV

As far as our egos go, God doesn't need us to build his church. He always has his seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal (I Kings 19:18). But, his grace gives us a place and a purpose in the body of Christ. The divine beauty of it all is that we serve and up getting blessed. God created us to enjoy a measure of fulfillment from serving others. 

The bottom line is: just serve God, he will take care of you.

Lord, Live Through Me Today

For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

Romans 14:7-8 NIV

Lord, use me today however you want. Open my eyes to see each moment of grace you want to come through me to others. Love through me today. 

What to Wear

When I worked in restaurants I wore whatever the uniform they gave us to wear.  As a teacher I have a bit more freedom to choose what I want to wear, so I have to think about it. Mondays we are supposed to wear college shirts. I do try to look professional. 

Spiritually speaking we need to put on the armor of light and clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. Earlier in the chapter Paul taught about loving your neighbor as yourself. Today, how can we love our neighbors?

Aim to Finish

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Acts 20:24 NIV

I teach middle school and sometimes I need to remind some students why they are in school. They often act as if it's just a social gathering where they can hang out with their friends. I remind them that the real reason they go to school is to get an education.

If you notice I didn't write receive because that's passive. To truly learn students need to actively participate in the process. Isn't that like our Christian experience? To truly know Christ we need to be actively involved in knowing Christ. Like Paul we need to aim to finish the task the Lord Jesus has given us. Run the race today. Be godly at home. Be godly at work. Work hard and give the glory to God. If any opportunity opens up to share anything about Jesus, take it. You don't have to have an altar call, just share what is fitting. 

The Servants See

Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.

”They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. 

John 2:7-9a NIV

One thing I have noticed is that when I am seeking to serve Christ, I see Christ move more than when I am not. 

In the narrative of Jesus's first miraculous sign, the whole wedding party enjoyed the miraculous wine, made in the water jars used for ceremonial washing, and had no idea where it came from. Except the servants. 

So, if you want to see God work, the servant's view is always the best. 

How Can I Help?

When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:41-45 NIV

You know the difference between a "Here I am" person and a "There You Are" person? The first is all about themselves and the other is all about others. Christ, who is God, always has been God, and always will be God, came to serve, not be served. We should be like him. 

As you approach each person, as yourself, are you maneuvering to get something for yourself or are you looking for an opportunity to serve? 

Let me ask you, how can I help you?

Use a Big Measure

“Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. 

Mark 4:24 NIV

Pay attention. Listen up. 

"With the measure you use"... 

Consider: What is the measure, of the gifts that God has given you, that you are using at this time of your life? That is a very simple question. 

The meaning of this verse is very profound. If you want God to work in your life, you need to step out in faith and serve in some way. For me, this is a direct hit between my eyes. I need to use a greater measure. 

The promise is that Christ says, he will measure out to us what we use and more. Do not be afraid to serve. Do not be afraid to offer anyone the grace of God. 

Lord Jesus Christ, help us measure out and use all that you have given us. Open our eyes today to see what you have before us. Praise be to you in us today!