Let’s just get right into it people. What do we do with ourselves when we say, “I want to serve God with my gifts” but truly, if we’re honest, we just want to do what WE want to do?
Serving God is only real and effective when it is a natural overflow of our relationship with Him. When we spend time with God, realize His love for us, then when we go to the store we can’t help but want the cashier to know how much God loves her too….. that’s natural overflow of our relationship with Him. Question: Did you do your ‘homework’ last week? Did you take a long hard look at the state of your heart? If so, then you’re like me and realize that you’re a mess…or like the title of this blog states, we stink. When we realize how pathetic we really are and respond to God in the way King David responded in 2 Samuel (read it now! #4), then we’re starting to serve God. We’re gaining a heart like Christ’s. In sharp contrast, wanting to be seen on camera or attaining some title or status, even in a Christian context and attempting to call it “service,” really isn’t serving anyone is it? Except maybe ourselves? Hmm?
When God creates and grows a new heart in us, then our words and actions will reflect that. That’s ministry. All of our other “doing” has no eternal value. Meaning that when I stand before God, only the things He accomplished through my submissive heart will count towards the eternal building of His kingdom. And if we’re going to be bold about it – everything else we do in our attempt to “serve” God is a waste of time in light of the enormous sacrifice God made for us. This isn’t fun, or light, but it’s real.
Here are some verses that inspired this blog. Read them. Read around them.
1. Jeremiah 17:9
2. Matthew 19:17
3. Genesis 20
4. 2 Samuel 11
5. 1Timothy 1:15
6. Romans ch.11
7. 2 Corinthians 5:17
8. Isaiah 64:6
9. John 15:16
I'm guilty...and it caught me off guard quite honestly! As I continued to pray this week and read over Steven's blog and the passages included, I was reminded how easily I shift from a God-focus to a me-focus when it comes to my own creative ability and serving. I had a keen reminder of that this week and, you're right Steven, it wasn't pretty!
ReplyDeleteServing God and keeping it about God (even in a church setting) isn't always easy. See, I LOVE serving with the Arts Team and all the different things I get to do, create and take part in and all you wonderful people who i serve with make it all the better...but if I'm not careful, I can let all those things become the 'god' I'm serving; those things get my time, my attention, my creativity, my heart...instead of God. Everyday I drive onto the Meck Campus I pray a little prayer that goes like this, "God - please help me to fail miserably at anything I attempt to do today without You." It might sound silly - but it helps me remember that it doesn't matter how much I enjoy what I do or even 'how good' I am at it if I don't remember that it begins and ends with God and if He's not in it, it's not worth it.
I read this week that God is ready to move, He's just waiting on me...that really made me think, ya know?
KG
I am A.K.A (guilty 2)… I used to come to church thinking that I could come in and serve and go home. I thought running camera was just about being creative and having fun, but then the heart question came? How was I helping people reach higher levels in their spiritual journeys? Why am I really serving? After reading and studying this week, I realize that there is no small job in helping the community of church. Now I see that each person is an asset to a team to run a ministry. That my one part needs to be given for the right reasons and when you have a bunch of people reaching for the ultimate payoff (being Christ Like) we can only reach remarkable. It takes everyone doing their part to make a well oiled machine. So my part is to help people enjoy their experience at Meck. So when I am running through my ways to help, I have to step back and remember that everything we do is being experienced by someone. It is easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of creativeness and loose sight of the end prize. For me, (the end prize or the prize at the end of the rainbow) is knowing that playing my part will help more Christians realize their spiritual gifts and enjoy church as much as I do. I think the first step for me is to eliminate the poison of unrealistic expectations of what I can get out of church and move towards the thinking of “what can I do” for the church. I grew up in a Pentecostal church (very different feel) where you were going to be taken by Satan for any sin, to finding out that God is full of Love and Grace. So my prayer is to see and respect God’s Bride… The Church…. JS
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