SERVE OTHERS

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others,
faithfully administering God’s grace in it’s various forms.”
(I Peter 4:10) 

Have you ever gone to the mall during the holiday season and watched all the people walking & shopping?  Some are tall, some are short.  Some are big, some are small.  Some have white skin; some have dark skin.  Some have blond hair; some have black hair, red hair, or even green hair.  Some have blue eyes, some have brown eyes.  Some walk fast, some walk slowly.  Every one is different.  No two people are exactly alike, not even identical twins.  God is sure creative, isn’t He?

Just as we have unique physical features, we also have unique emotional and spiritual features.  Your unique shape includes the following blend of special features…

S = Spiritual Gifts
H = Heartbeat (passions)
A = Abilities (talents & skills)
P = Personality
E = Experiences

God made you unique for a reason.  God shaped you for a purpose.  He wants you to use all those gifts, passions, abilities, and life-experiences to serve Him.  And we serve God by serving people around us. Did you see that in the verse above?  As we serve others, we are administering God’s grace to people.  Wow!  You and I are agents of God’s grace.

The Bible describes the church as a body.  As a body, we need every part of the body working together in perfect harmony.  The church is also described as a team.  As a team, we need every player working together in perfect teamwork.  These are just other ways to speak of serving each other!

There is no one else on this planet just like you.  You are a one-of-a kind.  You are God’s masterpiece.  But, you are also a member of a team.  And the team needs you!  We need each other. 

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for my unique s.h.a.p.e.
Help me, Lord, to use my unique-ness to serve others.
Show me, Lord, where I can administer Your grace today.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

FOLLOW JESUS

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
(Luke 9:23)

Webster’s Dictionary gives 22 different definitions for the word, “follow.”  Here are the three that I believe best explain the meaning of “following Jesus.”

• to accept as a guide or leader
• to conform, comply with, or  obey
• to imitate or copy

Caleb is my 2½ year old grandson.  At this stage in his life he is a follower, or a learner.   Caleb loves to get some “tools” and fix things.  He loves to sing.  He loves to water the plants outside at our house.  Caleb also loves to talk and he’s very good at carrying on conversations.  A few weeks ago, he surprised his parents with the word “apparently” out of the blue, and even used it in its proper context (by accident).  Apparently, he had heard his parents or someone use the word and decided he could say it, too.  Caleb is a quick learner because he’s a great imitator.  He sees his dad fixing things around the house and thinks, “I can do that.”  He hears his mom singing and thinks, “I can sing like that.”  He sees his grandma water the plants so he wants to do the same.  He hears other people say big words and decides he can say the same words. He’s a great imitator.

To follow Jesus is obey Him and imitate Him.  After all, as God’s children we’re called “Christians,” right?  And the word “Christian” simply means “Christ-like.”  You and I are “little Christ’s” walking around on earth.  When others see us at work, at home, in the neighborhood, or at church; they should see Jesus in us.  Paul put it this way in Ephesians 5:1 – “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children.”

Caleb is a great imitator of his parents.  Jesus was a reflection of His Father.  Are you a good imitator of Jesus Christ?  When others see you, do they see a reflection of Jesus?

Heavenly Father,
Thank- you for the privilege of being one of your children.
As I journey through this life,
give me the courage and strength to imitate Jesus.
May I be a reflection Jesus Christ in everything I say and do.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

MEET GOD

“As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?”
(Psalm 41:1-2)

When Barb and I were dating (a few years ago), we longed to be with each other whenever we could.  We spent every possible moment together.  During high school, I snuck over to her house after school occasionally. During college, we had a standing date on Mondays (my day off) to spend the afternoon and evening together.  We studied – but at least we were together.  We went out on a date almost every weekend.  When we couldn’t see each other, we talked on the phone.  When one of us was out of town, we wrote letters to each other (this was before cell phones and emails and facebook).  Why?  Because we were in love, and we wanted to get to know each other as personally and intimately as possible. 

You see, there are two essential factors in getting to know someone – time together and communication.  The same is true in our relationship with God.  When you truly love God, you want to get to know Him as intimately as possible.  You will communicate with Him by reading the Bible (God’s love-letter to you) and praying (your phone calls to Him).  And you will long to spend more and more time with God.

Barb and I have been married for over 30 years now, and there is still nothing that I enjoy more than just spending time with my wife.  Why?  We’re still in love.  Unfortunately, some days we’re lucky to get in a “good morning” and a “good night.”  There are many distractions in life – work, church, family, friends, television, etc.  They’re all good things, but they often keep us from what we enjoy most – each other.  Unfortunately, there are many things in life that distract us from spending time with God, as well.

Are you in love with God?  Does your soul pant for Him?  Do you long to spend time with Jesus?  I encourage you to find some time and a place to meet God every day!  Just spend time with Him! 

Heavenly Father,
I admit there are many distractions in life that keep me from You.
But, my soul pants for You, O God.
Please show me when and where
I can spend more time with You on a daily basis.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

HOW BRIGHT ARE YOU?

“You are the light of the world…
Let your light shine before men, that they may see yours good deeds
and praise your Father in heaven.”
(Matthew 5:14-16) 

My grandson, Caleb, loves to go outside on a dark night before bed and look in the sky for various lights; like airplanes, and stars, and especially the moon.  Of course the moon is the brightest light in the night sky, because it’s the closest to earth.  But the moon has no light of its own.  It only reflects the sun’s light. 

The same is true of God’s children.  Jesus said of Himself in John 9:5, “I am the light of the world.”  But in the verse above, He spoke to His disciples and said, “You are the light of the world.” So which is it?  Jesus or His disciples?  Both!  As God’s children, we simply reflect the Son’s light!

In Matthew 5, Jesus first used the metaphor of “salt” to refer to the impact and influence of Christians in society.  Then to drive home the point even further, he used a second metaphor – “light.”  Light has two primary functions.

First, light dispels darkness.  What’s the first thing you do when you walk into a dark room?  You flip on the light switch to turn on some light?  Why?  Because light dispels the darkness in the room and you can see where you’re going and what you’re doing.  As God’s children, we are called to live out our Christian lives in this dark world, and in doing so we essentially dispel darkness.

Second, light guides the way.  Have you ever been camping and have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night?  Of course the outhouse is usually down a trail, through some brush, around a few trees, and over several stumps and boulders.  So you take a lantern or a flashlight with you to guide the way.  As God’s children, we are called to light the path or guide the way for unbelievers to find Jesus Christ.  We are like flashlights, pointing people to Jesus – the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Are you reflecting Jesus’ light in your life and dispelling darkness.  Are you pointing the way for others to find Jesus?  How bright is your light? 

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for giving us Your Son, the Light of the World.
He is the way, the truth, and the life!
May my life reflect Your Son’s light in all I say and do.
Please use me to guide others to Jesus Christ.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.