I love how God answers prayers. While I was doing my morning readings this morning, I came across this in http://www.christianitytoday.com/globalconversation/august2010/index.html
As a leader, I am the bond-servant (doulos) of the people I lead (2 Cor. 4:5). This means that my schedule is shaped more by their needs than by mine.
How to teach my congregation servant-leadership? Is it teach them the difference in the vocational fulfillment in the kingdom of God vs. the vocational fulfillment in society. To teach them to live out Christ does not require a "full-time calling", but it's THE calling as children of God. And not to sugarcoat this teaching because to live out Christ is to suffer.
Vocational fulfillment in the kingdom of God has a distinct character, different from vocational fulfillment in society. Jesus said, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work" (John 4:34, ESV, used throughout). If we are doing God's will, we are happy and fulfilled. But for Jesus, and for us, doing God's will includes the Cross. The Cross must be an essential element in our definition of vocational fulfillment.
The New Testament is clear that those who work for Christ will suffer because of their work. Tiredness, stress, and strain may be the cross God calls us to. Paul often spoke about the physical hardships his ministry brought him, including emotional strain (Gal. 4:19; 2 Cor. 11:28), anger (2 Cor. 11:29), sleepless nights and hunger (2 Cor. 6:5), affliction and perplexity (2 Cor. 4:8), and toiling—working to the point of weariness (Col. 1:29). In statements radically countercultural in today's "body conscious" society, he said, "Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day" (2 Cor. 4:16); and, "For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you" (2 Cor. 4:11-12). I fear that many Christians approach these texts only with an academic interest, not seriously asking how the verses should apply in their lives.And I guess the fear I have is part of the suffering as the life of Jesus may be manifested in my life.
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How to teach servant-leadership? By doing it first. Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, He first served us. He died for us. It's because of God's mighty, amazing Love, that we first love. We know everything from the bible is truth, because He first demonstrated it to us as God, as human and as the spirit.
So many times, the church is called hypocritical because we just talk like we know the way to live, but we don't act on this "truth" we Christians say we believe. Do what God propels us to do to demonstrate servant-leadership, from the heart, with the motivation of being a servant, but not with the mentality that you’re teaching the congregation, but God is teaching the congregation. God is only using you as an instrument, on Earth as a mirror to reflect God's glory. It is God who is teaching and moving. We're only doing what we SHOULD do.. and what God has called for us to do.
What is our suffering compared to the suffering Jesus had on the cross? What is there to fear? When we accepted Jesus and our Lord and Saviour, we've given our truth, cast our anxieties to Him. Yes, it's difficult at times to give Him praise when our sinful human nature let's us think differently. But that's what we're taught. To be counter-thinking what the world thinks. But.. instead of seeing it as the road of suffering, see it as a journey where God will protect you, love you, where God is bigger than the problem, bigger than our situations, our problems. When God is sovereign and in control. When we gave our lives to God, we gave our WHOLE life, BODY, MIND and SOUL. This means every aspect of our lives should reflect our faith and our trust in Him. When we come to God with a thanksgiving heart, thanking God for taking care of us, of our problems, and for being our Lord, our God, our King, our master. It should give us peace, comfort knowing that we are taken care of.
That my brother in Christ is why you should not fear. "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9
It's a promise. God always keeps His promises. He promises He'll be there, no matter the hardship, no matter how difficult life's journey is. God's promise is greater than us, our thoughts, and anything the world can offer.
Suffering is only a small glimpse of a time-frame. But the value of that suffering is worth more, and means more than that moment. That suffering reflects a person life changing, suffering can bring joy, blessing, and love. There's more than just "suffering", otherwise God wouldn't be the love of my life. Otherwise, I wouldn't want to give my entire life for Him. A bit of God through suffering is more than a person needs.
Suffering in North America? I've heard Christians who have suffered through losing their entire family, through physical and emotional hurt and pain. Christians who have seen suffering in their face, yet they still rejoice in the Lord.
So before we think about how much we're "suffering". We should see the bigger picture, and put things into perspective. We should reflect on God's grace, His love, His mercy on us, giving us a home to live, a job, money to use which is worth something, food on the table, clothes we wear, SOCKS, shoes, families, health, computers, technology, LIFE, and more.
There are people who have seen their families die in front of them, and their faith in God is so strong, their trust in God's perfect plan in strong, their faith in God is priority, that God blesses them in unexpected ways.
God's blessings come unexpectedly, in forms we can't even imagine.
God will bless you, just don't expect it our own way. Just expect God, and be surprised and amazed as He works IN you and THROUGH you. As He blesses you to bless others, and showers His amazing love over your life making His love overflow from your heart onto others.
We're all in this together. As the body of Christ, we're all in this together. To live a life for God. We're imperfect, that's why we need each other to spur each other on with God's truth and reminders. We've all got numerous flaws, sinners inside and out, and weak. But through Christ, because of Christ we want to be better. Through our God, that's the reason why we push each other to strive for Christ-like lives, for "perfection". We'll never reach there, but part of our job is to "sharpen each other --an iron sharpens an iron".
My prayer for you Pastor is to be renewed, and have your heart and spirit renewed, overflowing with God's love. To serve others because of Christ, not because "the church needs this", but because it's what God's telling you to do next. To love the congregation, to connect, to build each other up, to encourage, to support and to become an army of God's, ready to fight this crazy crazy crazy world we live in.
You are loved A LOT by our King. He's entrusted you with the congregation. What are you going to do with it, and be a servant to God?
"He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
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