Hey Gang,
Well, we have traveled down two of our five "Roads Less Traveled" lessons on Community and Humility. Remember these are spiritual disciplines that promise to make a difference in our walk with God, our growth in faith and our fruitfulness in God's kingdom. When I think about last week's lesson on humility, the first four words in Rick Warren's book The Purpose Driven Life come to my mind, remember what they were? --- "_____ ______ ________ ________"
Here is the answer: "It's Not About You"
Did you remember that? Did you know that if you really grasp the meaning of just these four words that it would completely change your entire life and your relationship with every one you encounter. Did you know that if you really understood just these four words that you would gladly, without hesitation travel down each one of these five roads less traveled.
Remember the roads...
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverge into the wood, and I
I took the one less traveled by
and it made all the difference
This week we travel down the road of Service and it too is a lonely road. Our lesson this Sunday is entitled "A Lifestyle of Service." It's important to note that Humility and service go together. When we are humble, we tend to serve others. The greatest people are those who serve others in Christ's name, not those with worldly power.
There's a bumper sticker that's very popular in this country, it says, "God Bless America." When you see this bumper sticker don't you think that, God has. God has blessed America. Don't you think that you've been richly blessed? 1 Timothy 6:17-19 begins with "...Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth,..." Now I always assumed this verse was for somebody else, I mean, specifically somebody rich. If you read on it says, "...which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment,..." That phrase, the God who richly provides us with everything - all that we have is a gift. Think about it, Food - gift. Clothes - gift. Roof - gift. That breath that you just took - it's a gift. Do you believe this, that everything you own is in some way a gift from God? Everything?
There's a bumper sticker that's very popular in this country, it says, "God Bless America." When you see this bumper sticker don't you think that, God has. God has blessed America. Don't you think that you've been richly blessed? 1 Timothy 6:17-19 begins with "...Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth,..." Now I always assumed this verse was for somebody else, I mean, specifically somebody rich. If you read on it says, "...which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment,..." That phrase, the God who richly provides us with everything - all that we have is a gift. Think about it, Food - gift. Clothes - gift. Roof - gift. That breath that you just took - it's a gift. Do you believe this, that everything you own is in some way a gift from God? Everything?
The first Christians picked up on this in a letter called Ephesians. One of them wrote that we're saved by the grace of God through faith in Christ in order to do "mitzvoth," in order to do good deeds. We're saved to do good works. And so we're commanded to do "mitzvoth" and to be generous and willing to share. Are you a generous person? With your money? Your time? Your stuff? If God has blessed us so richly then why is the road of service (blessing others) so less traveled. Why do people with so much still want to be served rather than serve. Maybe we just don't want to spend time serving in menial ways - we are saving up for the more important jobs. Or maybe we know we should serve in some way and help someone but we can't seem to fit it in with everything else going on in our life. And then some of us may actually feel that the poor and homeless choose to be this way, so who am I to change that.
This week's lesson will redefine greatness and explain to us that every day we have an opportunity to be and do great things, but once again, it's not about you! Jesus will say whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant. Jesus will also challenge you this week to consider the talents (gifts) that you have been given - what are you doing with them? You and I will be held accountable for these gifts and how we served or blessed the least of these.
Be in prayer this week for the following:
Dunaways - pray for Justin as he starts back to Clemson. Joshua for wisdom about a relationship. Sheila has an unspoken requests and also continued healing from illness.
Thomas' - Pray for Suzie Mefferd in the loss of her Dad. Pray for Megan and Kasey as they begin the planning process of wedding.
Scheesers - Please continue to pray for our daughter, Allison and her healing following her surgery.
I hope you all have a blessed rest of the week as we prepare to hear God's word Sunday on how we should seize every opportunity to serve the least of these among us each day.
See you Sunday!
In His Love,
David & Susan
