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John 13: ¹⁸ “I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’ ¹⁹ Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He. ²⁰ Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”

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Working extra hours paid off. I was promoted and given more responsibility. “Do you want to help us serve the homeless?” was a question I could easily answer with the words “No time.” I had too much on my plate. After a while the plate got bigger and bigger. Soon, I missed going to places that asked those that type of question.

• I had made the mistake of filling up all my time.
• I had exchanged my purpose for a lesser prize.
• I had forgotten to add boundaries to my pursuits that included serving GOD.

One person would put his pursuits over GOD during the meal. Judas sought financial gain and was blinded by wealth instead of seeing the prize that was right in front of him. JESUS saw through HIS deception of trying to “be good.”

• JESUS wants to send me to seek those who have lost their way to HIM.
• JESUS wants to send people to me when I lose my way.
• JESUS wants me to be available.

Being available means I am willing to serve someone for JESUS sake, at a moment’s notice. This makes me rethink who I am willing to argue with or have combative language towards. JESUS wants my heart open so HE can clean it up and use it for HIS purpose. HE wants real servants, not fake. I receive being sent by JESUS and I look forward to those HE sends to me.

• Are you sitting in church but not believing that JESUS can solve your problems?
• Do you put your own pursuits over serving others strictly for GOD’s purposes?
• Will you make yourself available for GOD so HE can send you to speak about HIS SON today?

Willingness

Luke 10: After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. ² Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

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With the proposal due in a very short time, I decided to stay at work until I finished. Hour after hour passed and before I knew it people were showing up for work again. It was the next day and I had not left work. I worked 36 hours straight.

There have been many times when I have put a lot of effort into work.

There have been many times when I put work first and everything else second.

There have been many times when I was willing to use all of my thoughts on work.

JESUS  appointed seventy people who were willing to put their mind and efforts into telling people about HIS kingdom. HE knew there were plenty of people who needed to hear HIS message, but so many people were focused on protecting their lifestyle, they would never help HIS cause.

JESUS wants me to take some time to tell people about CHRIST.

JESUS wants me to use some of my thoughts to let people know how wonderful CHRIST is.

JESUS wants me to be willing to give my life to grow HIS kingdom.

Willingness to say “JESUS is LORD of my life” is what GOD desires from me. HE doesn’t make it hard or weird. HE wants me to be willing to seek those who have lost their way back to HIM. HE says “There are plenty of people who need to hear MY message, but very few people willing to tell people about ME.”

When I ask “What does GOD want from me” the answer is very clear. “Tell people about the sacrifice MY SON made for you” is all I want from you, nothing more.

Are you waiting on GOD to give you direction?

Do you think obtaining human titles and human affirmation will prove GOD’s love for you?

Will you start believing the truth that GOD loves you and drop the lie of meeting human expectations today?

Service Clarity

Luke 2: ³⁶ Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; ³⁷ and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. ³⁸ And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

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“Would you serve on this committee?” someone asked. “Yes, of course” was my answer. “Would you serve as a lead” “Yes, of course” I said. “Would you run a special project, help with the books, lead another group and teach?” “Um… yes?” I said.

• There were times when I got burned out because I could not say not to the church leaders.
• There were times when I got burned out because I thought I “had” to serve.
• There were times when I felt I must be closer to the LORD because I was working so hard.

Anna was a prophetess who was dedicated to the LORD. She served the LORD in a way that was different from most thinking. She fasted, prayed and told people about JESUS becoming a human to redeem the world. Her service was easily done.

• GOD wants me to serve HIM.
• GOD wants me to fast, pray and tell people about HIM.
• GOD wants me to not burn out rather serve HIM with my current gifts, talents and financial situation.

“MY yoke is easy and MY burden is light stands out to me, yet many people in the church are worn out because the leaders are hard task masters. GOD never said “Work your fingers to the bone” nor did HE say “Try harder.” GOD says “I made you just as you are and I AM pleased with you, just speak of MY SON, fast and pray.” My service is simplified this day.

• Are you worried that you are not pleasing GOD?
• Do you think you are not doing enough because someone judged you into guilt?
• Can you stop trying to please GOD so hard as the task masters dictate and just be who HE made you to be?

They just don’t understand

Acts 25: ¹⁸ When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. ¹⁹ Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive. ²⁰ I was at a loss how to investigate such matters; so I asked if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges.

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“Shocked” was the look many people gave me when I told them I was going on my first missions trip. “Why now?”, “why you?”, “don’t we have enough problems here?” were only a few of the questions I got as I discussed my plans. Funny, these questions were from people who claimed to follow CHRIST.

• It seems like there are times GOD has me do some unusual things that benefit the kingdom.
• It seems like there are times GOD directs me to do things people don’t understand that benefits the kingdom.
• It seems like there are times GOD leads me to places I would never go but it benefits the kingdom.

GOD desires that no one will perish and HE wants anyone who is willing to go out and spread HIS message of love, grace and mercy. HE wants me to be open to going to my neighbors, my city, other states and even other countries if HE tells me to.  This openness is the beginning of compassion for “all” humans not just the ones I would choose.

Many people will question the timing, method or reason for me serving GOD.  It seems like each time I have gone on a trip, money was an issue or some event was in conflict or some other reason was a better option. Even writing down a daily devotional is questioned as people ask “why do you do that?” or “why make yourself look bad?” There is a harsh reality to relaying HIS message that must be coupled with “love.”

• GOD’s message will remain strange to those who are not seeking HIM but I must try anyway.
• GOD’s method will be doubted by those whose faith is small but I must have faith anyway.
• GOD’s timing will seem inconvenient to people but I must accept HIS timing and HIS plan.

Paul tried to explain JESUS’ resurrection to people who could care less. They treated him like some religious fanatic and he was ostracized. GOD desires HIS simple message of love to be given even though people may not receive it.

• Are you trying to live for GOD and people do not understand what you are doing?
• Are people confused by your decision to serve GOD more and more?
• Can you stay the course while delivering HIS message with love, compassion and grace?

Someone needs your words

Acts 8: ²⁹ The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

 ³⁰ Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

 ³¹ “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

 ³² This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:

   “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,

   and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,

   so he did not open his mouth.

³³ In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.

   Who can speak of his descendants?

   For his life was taken from the earth.”

 ³⁴ The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” ³⁵ Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

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Disastrous is the best word I could use the first time I went out to “street witness.”  I talked “at” people flinging scriptures over their heads and all but stared them down demanding them to accept CHRIST right then and there. Thoroughly ineffective!

• GOD wants me to relate to people in order to draw them to HIM.
• GOD wants me to share my sins with people to let them know HIS power to save anyone.
• GOD wants me to stop trying to be a know it all and get out there and really help people.

People accept the words I tell them at their own pace. GOD delivers people who are seeking HIM directly to me or HE sends me to places where they are seeking HIM.  HE actually makes it easy for me all I have to do is be ready and obedient.

• Are you ready to tell people about the GREAT News about JESUS?
• When is the last time you opened your mouth and told someone about CHRIST?
• Do you realize you don’t have to know the Bible backwards and forwards to tell someone about CHRIST?
• Have you said the words “I don’t know, but all I can tell you is JESUS saved me?”
• Won’t you tell someone about GOD’s greatness today?