If I then, your Lord and
Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
—John 13:14
{CHAMBERS} “Ministering in everyday opportunities that surround us
does not mean that we select our own surroundings— it means being God’s very special choice to be available for use in any
of the seemingly random surroundings which He has engineered for us. The
very character we exhibit in our present surroundings is an indication of what
we will be like in other surroundings. The
things Jesus did were the most menial of everyday tasks, and this is an
indication that it takes all of God’s power in me to accomplish even the most
common tasks in His way. Can I use a towel as He did? Towels, dishes, sandals,
and all the other ordinary things in our lives reveal what we are made of more
quickly than anything else. It takes God Almighty Incarnate in us to do the
most menial duty as it ought to be done.[…] We have to go the “second mile”
with God (see Matthew 5:41). Yet some of us become worn out in the first
ten steps. Then we say, “Well, I’ll just wait until I get closer to the next
big crisis in my life.” But if we do not steadily minister in everyday
opportunities, we will do nothing when the crisis comes.”
{ELGIN} Having a conversation
with our 16 year old granddaughter about our leaving Alabama to go to Texas to
serve God and others, she asked why we decided to go to Texas. It made me realize that people looking in from
the outside, the appearance is that we have decided to do something different
with our lives. Actually, it was not our decision. I explained to her about how God speaks to
His children and the responsibility we have to obey His voice. (John 14:15) “If you love me [Jesus],
you will obey my commandments.” Seems
simple doesn’t it? But when faced with
the resistance of the flesh, it may seem simple but it is not necessarily
easy. The natural battling against the
supernatural. That is why there is such an emphasis to crucify the flesh and
submit to the Spirit. The life Jesus showed
us is polar opposite to the world’s convention.
The first will be last. If you
want to be great, be a servant. Love
yourself last. There is no greater demonstration of love than to lay your own
life down. I recall a friend talking to
me about what Martie and I would do have leaving Mississippi following 5 years
of disaster relief work. I told him that
we were going to Haiti. He got close to
me, looked in my eyes and asked, “Are you crazy?!?” To which I replied, “It is not my idea, it is
God’s calling.”
Following the leading of God
very often makes no sense to the natural man.
Even to many Christians. And with
respect to Christians, reading about faith and exercising faith are two,
totally different things. Many are
content to leave faith in the theoretical.
Sure we can pray when we or someone else is sick or has a great
need. But c’mon! God would not ask us to
do something contrary to what we know is wise in the eyes of the world, would He? I mean that can’t be God can it? What about
retirement? What about a place to live
when you are old? What about …. What
about ???? (Luke 9:23) “And he [Jesus] said to all, “If anyone would come after
me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (1
John 2:15) “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone
loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” What do you trust in? You will love –be devoted to – allow to
control your choices – the things you trust in. (Romans
12:1,2) “I appeal to you therefore,
brothers, by the mercies of God, to present
your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is
your spiritual worship. Do not be
conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,
that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and
acceptable and perfect.”
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