 |
|
| |
| I recently became aware of a need someone had in our church family. As a pastor, I am used to ministering and meeting needs primarily through my words. However, this was not a need that required a sermon, a Bible study, or a meeting (and some of you know how I love meetings!); the need would not be met through a card, phone call, e-mail, or even a visit. The need required service. Now of all the ways for me to show love to others, serving is the one I would choose least. Yet, the Holy Spirit brought to my mind a very powerful verse: "Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:18 I knew that this need was one I could meet, so I reluctantly (Sad, isn't it? This pastor is still in process!) became obedient to this inner compulsion from the Lord. As I was gearing up for the project, I remembered that it had been awhile since I took on a serving project. The last one I recalled was tearing down and removing a shed for a church member in the company of a few good men! With fun memories of that time, I showed up ready to serve. I had forgotten how good it felt to do something for someone else. (Woe, selfish me!) 1 John 3:19-20 goes on to say: "We will know by this (loving in actions and in truth) that we are of the truth and will assure our heart before Him in whatever our heart condemns us..." Love in action, meeting needs, is strong, biblical evidence of a redeemed and transformed life
|
| |
| |
| Sometimes encounters with God come in the most unlikely places! Last Wednesday night in our small group, I decided to prepare a lesson for the nine or ten children that come with their parents every week. In the past, following our meal together, the kids break off and watch a video while the adults work through our study. However, I felt impressed to do an "experiment" and see how the children would respond to a well-prepared lesson instead of a video. I enlisted Joey and Danny to be my assistants, and we prepared several hours before the people arrived. Now, let me be clear. I do NOT have the spiritual gift of service or helps. However, I DO know that God expects every follower to be willing to serve. Furthermore, working with children is not a passion area for me. So I was definitely stepping out of my comfort zone. We were finishing the lesson when the children got dessert. It was one of our member's birthday, and so we were celebrating with cake. Yellow cake with chocolate frosting. The little ones were all into it! Frosting on their faces, cake webbed between their fingers, the kids were having a blast! The main idea of our lesson was the Jesus died for our sins, so I bent down, took a wipe, and began wiping one of the children's faces and fingers. I was explaining that Jesus cleans us up just like the wipe cleans our face and fingers. My attitude was not the best, though. However, it was in that moment that the voice of the Spirit spoke to my heart. It was if Jesus were saying to me, "Andy, I humbled myself to wash dirty, smelly feet. Who are you that you cannot humble yourself to clean up dirty, little faces and hands?" It was in that moment that a change took place in me. It was as if I were hearing the Lord say, "to the extent that you did it to one of... the least of these, you did it to Me." I began to wipe the fingers of that little child more gently and tenderly - as if wiping the hands of the Lord, Himself. It was truly a spiritual and holy moment in the midst of a birthday celebration. Just as He cleans us up from the mess of our sin and rejoices over us as pure, clean, and holy, I found joy in cleaning up this child and pointing him to the One who is able to clean us up spiritually. God showed me the joy in service and reminded me that "whoever receives a child like this in My name receives Me." (Mark 9:37) May you, too, discover the joy in your service (if you have not already) that it truly is better to give than to receive (Acts 20:35).
|
| |
| |
| I was reading through 1 John not too long ago when something jumped out at me. In 1 John 2:14 something pretty incredible lies sandwiched between two phrases. John is writing to several different folks: little children, young men, and fathers, taken to reference where people are in their faith journey. He writes to the young men: "I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one." Just like Oreo cookies with the good stuff in the middle - though the outsides of an Oreo are pretty good, too - something pretty neat is sandwiched between the two other phrases. Who among us doesn't want to be strong in the Lord? To be a giant-killer? Who among us doesn't want to have victory over those same old sins, over those dastardly recurring difficulties, over those tantalizing but tiny temptations? I don't know why I didn't see it earlier, but I believe if we're going to BE strong, if we're going to overcome the evil one, it will NOT happen apart from the word of God remaining, abiding, living, continuing in us! So what's your diet like? How much spiritual food are you consuming? When was the last time you or I sat down to purposefully and unhurriedly read the Scripture? Do you memorize God's word? Do you have a plan to? Psalm 119:11 says "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." Jesus lived that out when He was tempted by Satan in the wilderness. If the Son of God gained victory through the memorized word, can you and I expect to gain victory without it? So, I'm going right now to sit down and feast on the good stuff - in between the two leather covers - God's word! "Sweeter also than honey, and the drippings of the honeycomb" is God's word! Be strong! Overcome the evil one! Consume the Scripture and continue in it! John 8:31-32
|
| |
| |
| Last October, Dennis Wait just showed up. To the God-mobile, that is. At the Pensacola Interstate Fair. It was there he met Trey (pseudonym). Dennis engaged Trey at the God-mobile with the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ. Trey was interested but not ready to commit. He told Dennis he would come to church on Sunday. Somewhat skeptical, Dennis told Trey he would look for him on Sunday. To his surprise and everyone else's, Trey showed up. I connected with him as well. Trey had a good experience in worship. He knew something was different there in that place. Trey came back. One or two weeks later, Trey responded to the message preached. After the service in the hallway, Trey was led to Christ by Dennis. Immediately we began follow-up. We began to learn that Trey had some baggage in his past (just like the rest of us!). Trey now has to face the consequences for some of his past actions. But with Christ in his life, he now has the resources to persevere and overcome them! Through my relationship with Trey, I was able to talk with his mom and dad regarding his recent troubles. I reassured them of our commitment to help Trey. They were touched by God's kindness through me. They wanted to meet me. Last night, I visited them in their home and was able to share the gospel with both of them because you just never know... until you speak up. It turns out they claim to have already put their faith in Christ. I was able to share with them that the same faith they have is the same faith their son, Trey, has now, too. They have a peace that things will ultimately turn out OK. And, they said, "Don't be surprised if we show up to your church sometime." I left last night from their home, having made 2 new friends. You just never know what may come from a simple act of obedience - like attending a class called "Share Jesus without Fear" or showing up to the God-mobile and talking to somebody. Now a whole family has been touched. So, speak up. Reach out. Engage that neighbor, co-worker, or friend. Take an interest in them. You just never know how God may use you, too! Let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
|
| |
| |
| Today in my time with God, I read about Mary. A familar passage: John 11 and the death and resurrection of Lazarus. Mary and Martha, his sisters, encounter the Lord upon his arrival to the scene. Jesus wept. I've preached a funeral from this passage. I asked God to give me fresh eyes as I read this familiar and treasured story. I'm glad I did! The Lord showed me something interesting about Mary. When she came out to Him, she fell at his feet (in worship I believe and) in grief. Jesus had delayed his visit to the sisters' dying brother by about four days. Yet, here is where Mary goes... to Jesus' feet. Somehow she knew the best place to be in the worst of times was with Jesus - at His feet. Then, the Lord reminded me that Mary sat in wonder at His feet to listen to His teaching in Luke 10; she falls at His feet in John 11 to bring Him her grief; and she sacrifically anointed and cleaned His feet (with her hair) with a very expensive gift of perfume in John 12. Mary had the heart of a worshiper. In wonder, in wailing, in worship, Mary comes to Jesus with it all! What a good reminder to me that the very best place I can be in life is at the feet of Jesus. No matter what my circumstance or my setting, I can come to Jesus by means of His Spirit within me, knowing that the best place to be - even in the worst of times - is with Jesus.
|
| |
|
