Is This PERFORMANCE or PARTICIPATION???

I love 1 Peter 4...every single word!  Over the past month, I've really been praying and pouring my heart out to God about kingdom ministry and my participation.  I've been serving in kingdom ministry in the church and community for a long time.  In just a few weeks, Lord willing, I will have served at my church as pastor for ten years. Kingdom ministry has really been on my heart this past month.  I've thought about the different areas of ministry in the church: pastors, deacons, teachers, women's ministry, men's ministry, student ministry, children's ministry, and many more positions of service.  A question that I've asked myself is a tough one: "Is this PERFORMANCE or PARTICIPATION?"  I have learned that if I am not completely humble in all I say and I do then what I am saying and doing for the kingdom can become a PERFORMANCE.  If I am not completely humbled before God and completely surrendered to God then kingdom ministry can actually become the idol of my heart.  Without true humility and true surrender, I begin to make kingdom ministry what I want it to be; I begin to make kingdom ministry a glorified platform for what I want to say and what I want to do rather than a humble position of saying what God wants me to say and doing what God wants me to do.  When kingdom ministry is about PERFORMANCE in my life, I will compare myself to others; I will become judgmental and domineering; I will become the exact opposite of who Jesus saved me and called me to be.  Kingdom ministry is not about my PERFORMANCE.  Kingdom ministry is about my PARTICIPATION. 

1 Peter 4:1-2 says, "Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.  As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God."  Peter goes on to say in verses 7-11, "The end of all things is near.  Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.  Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.  Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.  Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms.  If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.  If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things GOD MAY BE PRAISED THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.  To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever.  Amen."

I thank God for our salvation that comes through humble repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ.  I thank God that through salvation we become children of God and ambassadors of God in this world.  We are not called to sit around and watch what God is doing; we are called to PARTICIPATE in what He is doing!  What a blessing!  Peter's words in 1 Peter 4 remind me that everything I say and do is about Jesus and for Jesus.  His words remind me that my goal is that "GOD MAY BE PRAISED THROUGH JESUS CHRIST."  Kingdom ministry is never about me; it is never about a PERFORMANCE to glorify myself or my words or my actions; it is not so others can see me or think that I am so good or better than.  If that is what I make it, then the truth is I look a whole lot more like the Pharisees than I do the Christ followers.  In the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, Jesus had many conversations with the teachers of the law and the Pharisees.  Jesus wanted them to know the truth of God's Word; He wanted them to know that it was the law that exposed their sinfulness and their desperate need of a Savior.  However, as we see in Scripture, for many of the teachers of the law and the Pharisees, the law had become an idol in their hearts.  They began to PERFORM for the crowds rather than to PARTICIPATE with the Lord.  Kingdom ministry for the teachers of the law and the Pharisees had become a show, a spectacle.  I have been praying to my Father this past month about kingdom ministry and my part in it.  I have also been repenting of my sinfulness, the sinfulness of PERFORMANCE over PARTICIPATION...making kingdom ministry about what I want to say and what I want to do rather than humbling surrendering to God and being His vessel, His ambassador.

As Peter shows us in 1 Peter 4, kingdom ministry is about PARTICIPATION, and that PARTICIPATION includes surrendering, suffering, sacrificing, and serving.  It is about being completely humbled and completely committed to God in every area of our lives.  If we are more concerned about getting our way with others...if we are more concerned about getting the prizes of man (trophies, t-shirts, applause, etc)...if we are more concerned with positions over others...then maybe we need to step back or even step down.  If we are PERFORMING for man then we can't be PARTICIPATING with God.  

Lord, help me.  Lord, show me the truth.  Lord, forgive me of my sinfulness and my selfishness.  Lord, thank You for saving me and calling me to PARTICIPATE in kingdom ministry.  Lord, help me stay humble.  Lord, help me stay focused on You and what You want me to say and what You want me to do.  And Lord, help me to love others deeply, offer hospitality with grumbling, use my gifts to serve others, and be a faithful steward of the grace You've given me.  Let my PARTICIPATION cause others to praise You through Jesus Christ.  Amen!

Do Not Give Up!

It's a phrase that I've heard many times in my life, especially when I was playing.  It's a phrase I used many times when I was coaching ball in high school.  It's a phrase that helped me many times when I wanted to quit...because it hurt, because it was hard, or because I was tired.  "DO NOT GIVE UP!"  

Have you ever been weary?  "Weary," as defined by Merriam-Webster, means "exhausted in strength, endurance, or vigor; having one's patience, tolerance, or pleasure exhausted."  Maybe you've experienced weariness in your workplace, in your home, or in your relationships.  Maybe you've experienced weariness in kingdom ministry.  Maybe you've experienced weariness in all of the above.  Maybe you are weary right now.  Paul has a good word for you in Galatians 6:9.  Pauls says, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we DO NOT GIVE UP."  Of course, Paul was speaking the church at Galatia and encouraging Christ followers in their kingdom ministry work.  Paul understood the challenges they faced in ministry, the challenges they faced both in their church and in their community.  These Christ followers were doing good work.  They were loving people, leading people into repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ.  They were sowing gospel seeds in the hearts of people.  This was no easy task!  One thing that makes sowing seeds so difficult is waiting for those seeds to grow and to bear fruit.  We have an enemy - the devil - who wants to steal from us, who wants to kill us, and who wants to destroy us.  He loves to discourage us in any and every way he can, especially when it comes to kingdom ministry.  Many, many times in kingdom ministry we can get weary and discouraged when we don't see things happening...repentance, salvation, growth, and more.  We can be overwhelmed with feelings of despair and of defeat.  We can, and yes, we will be tempted to give up, to quit!  Paul says to us just as he said to the Galatians, "Let us not become weary in doing good."  But how?  How do we do that?  I believe we do what John says to do in 1 John 4:7.  John says, "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God."  He goes on to say in verse 13, "This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit."  And finally, John says in verse 16, "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.  God is love.  Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them."

I believe we can fight the weariness in our lives by KNOWING and RELYING on God's love for us!  I believe we can fight the weariness in our lives with the TRUTH of God's Word.  God has called us into intimate relationship with Him, and He speaks to us through His Word and through His Spirit in us.  As Christ followers, He has called us to be His children, to be His ambassadors, and to be His vessels in this world.  We simply sow the seeds; the harvest belongs to God.  When I pray, when I read God's Word, and when I listen to His Spirit in me, I can know the truth.  The truth sets me free!  In those times that hurt, in those times that are hard, and in those times when I am tired, I will turn to my Father; I will KNOW and RELY on my Father's love for me.  And I resolve now to embrace the words of Galatians 6:9, when Pauls says to me, "DO NOT GIVE UP!"

Wednesday in the Word - 1.5.2022

Happy Birthday, Marty!

 "And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." - Colossians 3:14

Marty, you are a gift from God to me and to our children.  We are so thankful for you!  Thank you for being a vessel of God's love to us each and every day...no matter the circumstances!  You truly are a blessing to everyone, and you are a great example of Colossians 3:14 to our world.  We hope that you have a great birthday and that you enjoy the peace of God in your life...today and every day!  We love you so much!!!

Happy 21st Birthday, Jacob!

I've heard it said many times, "You better not blink, because your kids will grow up and be adults before you know it."  Over the past few years, I blinked several times.  My kids are growing up into adults, but I am so thankful to God for them!  Jacob, you are growing into an awesome young man, and we are so proud of you!  I remember the days of you sitting in my lap watching ESPN until we both fell asleep.  I remember you clinging to your mom at home, at school, at church, and pretty much anywhere we went.  But most of all, I remember your smile and your laugh.  Keep smiling and laughing, son.  We hope that you have a great 21st birthday, and we hope you know just how much we love you!  We pray that God will continue to bless you and make you a blessing to others for His glory.  Amen!