I often think I like to serve, but this Sunday the sermon I heard pretty much wrapped up some of the struggles I still am working through with 'serving.' The pastor mentioned that people often don't mind serving, until someone treats them like a servant. That really rattled around inside my head. I don't mind doing difficult, physical, or dirty task, as long as I'm the one directing myself. This week I've been working on a project for someone that I've been a part of for the last month and a half. I was feeling frustrated with the leadership, the way that 'we' are being treated, and feeling really critical of other's work ethics etc etc etc....and I thought-OK-I still don't have this serving lesson down! I don't believe the bible ever teaches about serving....as long as you are being treated with respect. The only thing I recall is how the server is supposed to serve, NOT a list of stipulations and conditions under which is is OK to serve...and not to serve. In my head I was rehearsing the things I wished I could say in response to this week's frustrations. This evening I finished up a 'just for fun' book I was reading and went through a page of devotionals from a book I've had by my night stand for quite some time....and the versus were screaming my name! What an incredible God! How can there be a world full of billions of people, and just as many major and minor problems...and yet, God took time this week (and every week-I just don't listen very well) to deliver this very personal (and ongoing) lesson to me. He planted that sermon in the pastor's heart, He had me set my devotional book down days ago at just this place in preparation for when my heart would be ready to hear those words. I even marked the place I planned to stop with a book mark, and from the first one I read, to the last, each was written to convict me of these struggles. How wonderful to have a Loving Father who has a personal relationship with each of us. And....in case I start my complaining again to any of you at the break of dawn when I head back in to do my project, please direct me to the following versus as I continue working towards a MUCH more humble serving heart. :O)
"Honor Christ by submitting to each other." Ephesians 5:21
"So be careful not to jump to conclusions before the Lord returns as to whether someone is a good servant or not. When the Lord comes, He will turn on the light so that everyone can see exactly what each one of us is really like, deep down in our hearts. Then everyone will know why we have been doing the Lord's work. At that time God will give to each one whatever praise is coming to Him." 1 Corinthians 4:5
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