Where You Lead

Live To Serve

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men.

Ephesians 6:7

I’ve already reflected on serving others. Seems there isn’t much more to say about it. But there is. This passage says so much about serving.

It isn’t enough that we serve others, we must do so “wholeheartedly.” We must serve others as if we were serving the Lord! Imagine that. Imagine how differently we’d serve if it were the Lord and not just some person.

For example, it isn’t enough to force a smile as we offer our place in line to the frenzied mother with the whining toddler and an overflowing shopping cart. Rather, we should lovingly and with genuine joy, offer our place to the mother as we try to help her unload her cart. Perhaps a pat on the hand and a sincere smile of understanding will make the next hour go a little smoother for her. If she were our Lord rather than just some woman with a screaming brat, how would we respond to her? Yeah, that’s how we should respond – as if she were our Lord.

I’ve been trying to serve others, putting Jesus first and those around me second. Now I need to take my service to the next level. I must serve with true Joy, as if each person I meet is Jesus Christ. I must serve others the same way I’d serve my Lord.

Join me?

Immovable Heart

My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast.

Psalm 57:7

A steadfast heart is constant. It’s strong. It never doubts, never wavers.

I know my heart is steadfast when my life is going well. When I can see God’s hand in my life, feel His blessings, my love and devotion to Him is sure and steady. When things go wrong, though, I find that I must make a real effort to remain steadfast in my faith. I must make a conscious effort remain to true to my Lord.

Each and every day, no matter what is happening around me, I must make a choice to connect to Him, to confide in Him, to love Him. Every time I turn my back on sin or reach outside of myself do His work, I am strengthening my bond with God.

Let’s all work toward having a steadfast heart for God.

Priority Adjustment

Command those who are rich in this present world not be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

1 Timothy 6:17

God blesses some with much wealth. That’s fine. The problem is when wealth becomes more important than God. The problem is when wealth becomes God.

God’s blessings in our lives are intended to be shared. When we don’t share, when we hoard, might it be a lack of trust in God? When we have a little extra or a lot extra, do we keep a portion as “cushion” just in case something comes up? I’m guilty of that. I have money set aside that I use only for emergencies. And I’ve noticed something.

No matter how much I set aside, something comes up that requires just that amount of money. Interestingly, it usually happens shortly after I neglect to share it with someone who needs help. I reason at the time that I can’t let my cushion get too low, and that I’m being responsible for my family. The truth is, that cushion doesn’t protect my family, God does. That little bit of money can be wiped out in a heartbeat – and often is.

I really need to stop relying on money and start trusting God. Money is gone in a flash but God never leaves my side. God will provide. He always does.

Daily Praise

Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, O my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

Psalm 146 1-2

Of course, we Christians will agree that we should praise God every day. Most of us believe that we do. I wonder, though, how much of our time each day is spent praising Him compared to how much time we spend asking for something.

If I’m going to be honest here, I have to admit that I give praise for less than a minute each day but I ask God’s help, blessings or favors constantly, all day long. There’s nothing wrong with asking for God’s guidance in life; in fact he loves that we rely on him. He loves, too, that we give him honor, praise and credit for all that we are and all that we have. Our praise should be, at the very least, equal to our prayers of thanksgiving and prayers requesting blessings.

Today, I’m praising God throughout the day. Every time I get the urge to ask Him for something, I’m going to make a point of praising Him instead. I want to get into the habit of praising Him more than asking.

Will you join me? Today, don’t ask, just praise Him.

Real Wisdom

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

James 3:13

Humility comes from wisdom, huh? There’s a thought I need consider for a little while. I’m not sure why but I’d never really associated those two qualities. Now that I really think about it, I realize that the people I know who I consider truly wise – not simply “smart” – are also humble.

The opposite of a wise person, I suppose, would be a fool. None of us want to be a fool. It’s difficult, though, to look at ourselves through someone else’s eyes so I have to wonder how many times my lack of humility made me a fool in the eyes of others? Given my struggle with humility, I’d guess plenty of times!

I have to remember that when I do something for someone else, I need to keep quiet about it. I must not announce it to anyone. I must not pat myself on the back for being generous or good. I must remember, also, that I don’t need to be the best or get the most attention. Helping and giving is joy on its own.

Most important I must remember that when I succeed, it is only by the grace of God. Everything I accomplish is His work, His goodness, His blessings. Humility means understanding that without God, I am nothing. Humility means that when I am able to serve others, that is God’s gift to me.

Let’s pray today that we have the opportunity to serve and remember to praise God for the opportunity. Let’s serve and give with humility so that are lives are led by true wisdom.

Who’s Number One?

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

Galatians 5:13

Do you remember how Jesus washed the feet of his disciples after the Last Supper? Jesus, who they called Lord and Master, knelt down to wash their feet, to serve them.

That is exactly what God expects from us as well. We are to serve one another in love. If I believe that I am better than someone else, by virtue of my money or intelligence or whatever, how will I serve this other person?

I know there are teachings of other faiths or modern day “religions” that proclaim the person to be the ultimate. That kind of thinking feeds into today’s “Me first” and “It’s all about me” mentality. God’s word, though, tells us that we are not number one, that we are here to serve one another.

I think it’s time for me to step outside of my comfort zone and begin to really help others. I’ve put off for too long the work I need to do to reach out and serve those in need of God’s love. Today, I will recommit myself to service for God.

Real Treasure

“Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”

Matthew 6:19-20

Everything in this life will pass. We will walk this earth for less than a century; it is the next life that will be eternal. It is the next life that will matter because it is forever.

I’ve been “middle age” for several years now and I can’t deny that I’ve thought about the last part of my life when I’ll need to find a means of financial support beyond a regular job. Will my husband and I have enough “set aside” to carry us through to the end? Interesting, we’ll need enough for 10 or 20 years, maybe a little longer. Yet we seldom give any consideration to to the treasures we’ve stored for the next life that will go far beyond 20 or more years.

You would think that preparing for eternity would count for more than a measly decade or two. You would think that we’d be storing up treasures for eternity from the time we learned about it. Why is it we take for granted our place in heaven, and concentrate on this life? Why do we not trust the Lord to provide for us during our visit here on earth, and spend our time earning our treasure in heaven?

Today, let’s all remember that nothing we have here on earth will go with us into eternity. Let’s never forget that everything we’ve accumulated here on earth will rot away while the good we do and the love we share will go with us into forever. Let’s keep in mind that we need only trust in God to care for us here and that our real treasure awaits us in Heaven.

God’s Word

We must pay more careful attention therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

Hebrews 2:1

Whether you were raised in a Christian home or found Christ later in life, you undoubtedly have read the Bible. You have learned of God’s word. You know his teachings. So why must you continue to read the Bible? After all, it hasn’t changed or been updated, right?

This is the information age and there is no escaping the all of the information being hurled our way. From the internet to 24-hour news channels, we are the most up-to-date society ever. And yet, some of the information that finds its way to us is not truth. Some of it is not only based on lies and propaganda but can be downright harmful.

Only in reading God’s word daily and allowing Him to guide us through the information maze, can we remain on the true path to our Father. Only when we rely on His Word to show us the Way can we maneuver through the misinformation to the truth. This is why it is so vital that we read the Bible every day. This is why we must keep God’s word at the center of our minds and our lives.

Love

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 13:34-35

Every one of us is capable of loving. We know that and we do love. We love our children, our parents, our spouses. We love our neighbor. But do we love as Jesus has loved us?

Jesus laid down his life for us, no doubt the ultimate act of love. He did that even though we are sinners; He loved us regardless of our faults and flaws. Jesus loves us when we are not so lovable.

I know that I do not love others as Jesus loves me. When I am angry or bitter, Jesus keeps loving me. Yet, when I am faced with a bitter or angry person, I respond with anger or bitterness. Sometimes I just walk away. I do not love that person. I do not show kindness or compassion. I do not love as Jesus loves me.

Lovable people are easy; it’s the bitter, angry person that really tests our love. Those are the people that Jesus wants us to love because they need the love of Christ in their lives. As with every command that Jesus has given us, we can’t pick and choose when to follow and when to ignore. We must follow Christ’s commands always. And that means loving everyone, especially those who are so very unlovable.

We are here to serve the Lord and we serve by loving His children. Today, let’s try to love as Jesus loves us: totally, completely, unconditionally.

Serving Whom?

I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.

1 Corinthians 4:3-4

Whose opinion do you value? For whom do you live your life?

We are each responsible for following God’s word and being true to Him. We are not beholden to anyone else. While we are instructed to honor our parents and we vow to love our spouses, these are not the people who will judge us or whose approval we should seek. Only God has the power to judge us. Our only concern should be that we please Him.

I remember once chatting with a friend and caught myself more than once passing judgment on someone we both knew. I realized then that I had stepped over a line and that I really had no right to judge any other person, not having insight into their hearts or minds. At that thought, I corrected myself and said, “I guess I’m lucky that God will judge me, and not my neighbors, huh?” My friend understood.

Let’s all remember today that we need to please only God. Let’s leave the judgments to Him so that we can concentrate on simply following him and doing His work.