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Serving
How many times have you sung the words of that beautiful hymn, "He
Lives," the
first words of which are, " ? I serve a living Savior, He's in the world
today?...?"
But do we really serve the Living Savior? I ask myself the question, as
I'm sure you
may also, how am I serving Him.? Is it by attending church, singing the
hymns,
financially supporting the Church, tithing, joining the choir, attending
Bible study,
hosting a fellowship or prayer group, working in the kitchen to feed the
hungry,
writing letters or articles of encouragement, performing as lay leader,
or evangelist,
helping to serve communion, providing transportation for the needy,
serving as
usher or parking lot attendant, even becoming a missionary, the Pastor,
or Shepherd
of the flock? You name it , the list goes on.
Many are content with the Sunday activity, they are willing to say
that they just
don't feel called, but for whatever reason, they like showing up for
Church on
Sunday. Many, if not all of us, have been there, done that, bought the
tee shirt. I
have quite a collection of tee shirts. Except when as a child and my
parents packed
me off to Sunday School, I had no desire to go to Church. When I was 49
and the
father of four children which my wife carted off to Sunday School and
Church, I
had no desire to be part of that. I had been there enough times to know
that that
bunch, especially the men, put on a different mask when Sunday rolled
around .
Before I reached my 50th birthday, I began to ponder just what was life
all about? It
began to seem like just a grind, go to work every day, (I did, however
like my work)
come home, listen to the family problems, watch the bad news on
television, get up
the next day to the same drill. Where was all this leading?
Without going into all the attendant details and ramifications, and
there were
many, I began searching for some answers. For the first time in my life I
began
reading the Bible, and soon decided I wanted what God promised-
forgiveness of
sins, salvation, new birth, The Holy Spirit, eternal life. All these
things were freely
given and freely received, but things didn't change, I did, and I must
admit, for the
better. And it wasn't long before I decided that I should be doing
something in
return. I now wanted to serve The Living Savior. I came up with all kinds
of
possibilities, all my ideas and all in my own energy and my own time. I
had lots of
ideas, I was on a roll. God would certainly be pleased.
At my age I figured I didn't have a lot of time, so I had better get
moving. I
presumed that God was calling me to get involved in ministry and the time
was
short. I later discovered that Moses was 80 when God called him to do
something.
I also noticed that God does not necessarily call the qualified, but
instead He
qualifies the called. Another thing I missed was Psalm 27:4 where we are
to "Wait
on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart:
wait, I say, on
the Lord." Wait? After three years in the Air Force during WWII where it
was
always, "hurry up and wait." Rush to where you were told to go and then
wait for
something to happen. The cold war was blossoming and the Communists were
a
threat to the free world, and something had to be done to stop them from
running
rampage over the free world. Ok, form prayer groups, write letters to the
government, get involved with protest groups, stir things up in the
Church, build a
bomb shelter in your back yard.
The sad thing is that God never said to do any of those things,
instead "wait I say"
is more like what we would hear if we stop long enough to listen instead
of jumping
the gun and racing off on our own. We must recognize that there is a
distinct line
drawn between faith and presumption. When we feel inspired to do
something and
begin and everything "flows" smoothly, there is a good possibility it is
of faith.
While on the other hand if we start off with our own great plans
presuming it's
Gods idea, we run into one problem after another. We call on God for help
and He
puts even bigger road blocks in our path. We want to blame that on the
enemy,
when all the time it is God trying to get our attention. We're headed
down the
wrong road. Of course we know there will be obstacles to overcome, so we
plow
blindly on expecting God to make a way where there seems to be no way.
Sound
familiar? If we want to see evidence of this on a large scale we have
only to look at
some of the prodigious television ministries that have fallen and with a
great crash.
If we really want to do something the first thing we need is wisdom.
Wisely
handling the matters of life gives to man the richest enjoyment, and
presents the
noblest occupation for his endeavors; by it he finds good in the fullest
sense.
Without wisdom we are likely to find ourselves running hither and
thither, wasting
time, strength, and energy, which might otherwise be profitably employed.
How
often have I found myself spinning my wheels when I could have been
moving
ahead. Spurgeon put it like this: "without wisdom we are a derelict
vessel, the sport
of wind and waves. We must be prudent in such a world as this, or we will
find no
good, or be betrayed into unnumbered ills. If, however, we follow where
the Holy
Spirit leads we shall find good even while in this dark abode." How might
we come
by this wisdom? James provided the answer in his epistle to the twelve
tribes : "If
any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men
liberally, and
upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith,
nothing wavering.
For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and
tossed."
(Chapter 1 verses 5-6)
God knows where we are best suited to be in the body, and He will put
us there if
we will but "wait I say, wait on the Lord."
Solomon’s Porch Thought for the Day
"Be still and know that I am God
Psalm 46:10
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