Weights
Our trip to Mexico was quick and filled with frustration, but I am thankful that I was able to meet my son's fiance and her family. Since Sol's family does not speak English and I do not speak Spanish, talking about Brent and Sol's wedding was interesting to say the least. But God willing, their wedding will be here in Chicago right before the new year. The good news is that I am going to try to bring my daughter home from South Africa for Christmas so that she will be able to be a part of the wedding. She only has 9 more days left before she leaves and my life is wrapped up with trying to help her, so wedding plans will have to wait . She is still short $47,000 of her needed budget. What is most needed is upfront cost for a vehicle, which is necessary for her to do the ministry for which she has been called to South Africa. Please pray for a miracle in this last week. If you would like to be a part of that miracle you can give through her website: www.recklesslyabandoned.org I hope the word picture below is a blessing and help to your life and ministry.
Picture…a weightlifter struggling with a barbell with two very heavy weights on each end. It looks like he is trying to do a squat but it appears that he is about to loose control and drop the weight. His back is hunched over, his legs are trembling and sweat is pouring off his brow. I ask Lord, “What is he doing? He has the wrong form and it looks like it is too heavy of a weight.”
Hear…the Lord say, “He is serving me without joy.”
Consider: Sometimes service and ministry to the Lord can seem like a heavy burden that you and I are required to bear. If that is how you feel, it’s time to examine your motives for serving God in that area. If you recognize your involvement is based out of sense of duty or responsibility…there’s your problem right there. For example: if you serve as a greeter because you’ve always been a greeter. If continue being a greeter because you think it’s expected of you, even if you are an introvert and you find the whole process painful, your ministry in that area is going to be arduous and far from fulfilling. It’s going to be a weight, not a source of wonder and joy. Although possessing a sense of duty and responsibility is great for your character, it is not a good motivation for long-term service in a particular area. God wants to restore to you not only the joy of your salvation but also the joy that comes from serving Him. That restoration will come when you restore love as your motivating factor. When your service for God is based out of a heart overwhelming love for God, and for the people you serve, you will find your joy in service. Love is the only acceptable motivation.
“If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth but didn't love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, but didn't love others, what good would I be? And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, without love I would be no good to anybody. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would be of no value whatsoever.” 1 Cor 13:1-3 NLT
Hear…the Lord say, “He is serving me without joy.”
Consider: Sometimes service and ministry to the Lord can seem like a heavy burden that you and I are required to bear. If that is how you feel, it’s time to examine your motives for serving God in that area. If you recognize your involvement is based out of sense of duty or responsibility…there’s your problem right there. For example: if you serve as a greeter because you’ve always been a greeter. If continue being a greeter because you think it’s expected of you, even if you are an introvert and you find the whole process painful, your ministry in that area is going to be arduous and far from fulfilling. It’s going to be a weight, not a source of wonder and joy. Although possessing a sense of duty and responsibility is great for your character, it is not a good motivation for long-term service in a particular area. God wants to restore to you not only the joy of your salvation but also the joy that comes from serving Him. That restoration will come when you restore love as your motivating factor. When your service for God is based out of a heart overwhelming love for God, and for the people you serve, you will find your joy in service. Love is the only acceptable motivation.
“If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth but didn't love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, but didn't love others, what good would I be? And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, without love I would be no good to anybody. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would be of no value whatsoever.” 1 Cor 13:1-3 NLT
When you serve God out of your love for God and for people, the weight of ministry and service will fall off of you and you will find yourself in a season of unrestricted joy. So stop and think about it a moment. Has life lost its fizz? Does ministry exhaust you or enliven you? Do you dread or do you look forward to your time of service? If you recognize that there is no joy in your service you need to make sure that you are in the right area of ministry. Do you get to use your gifts, talents and abilities in your area of ministry? Does it fit your personality and season of life? If it doesn’t, look for an area that does. If it does, but it’s become routine and a burden ask the Lord to forgive you for allowing work to just become work. Ask for God to restore your love. Ask Him to help you to get back to your first love.
Prayer: “Jesus I love you. I really do. Thank you for sacrificing everything you had and everything you were so that I could have this wonderful gift of Salvation. Thank you for placing within me gifts, talents and abilities. Its amazing to realize that you really don’t need me, but even more wonderful that you want me. Thank you for making me a strategic part of your plan for this day and age. I am so sorry that I’ve allowed my service to you to become routine and even at times a drudgery and chore. I repent and ask for you to restore my “first love.” I want to love you so completely that it affects and motivates everything that I do. Restore my love for you, my church family and the lost. Help me to focus so much on that love, that it becomes a motivation for all that I do. I want to walk into a new season of unrestricted joy. I want to bring you pleasure in all that I do. In Jesus name, Amen.”
posted by pastorc @ 10:26 AM
1 Comments:
One foot in front of the other only works for just "so long", and so long has about run out! Good word for my season of Monday through Friday life. I should be more grateful and not just for the weekends!
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