For the past little while I have been struggling with how to minister to people and show them Christ. The reason this has become a struggle for me is because I have noticed that people seem to only come when there is something in it for them. If we don't have a gimmick to get them there, they won't be there.
Boy that sounds awful, even as I type it!!! Let me try to explain it better. I realize that there is desperate need out there in so many places and I for one want to help those people and most definitely show them the love of Christ. What I am speaking too (I guess) is the entitlement game. There are those who take help not only for granted, but seem to assume that it is their right. There seems to be no appreciation. They seem to have no idea that the people who are serving genuinely want to show them a better way.
So there it is ~ my ugly little secret. I'm a little ticked! It's not pretty is it?! So this thought has been going through my head since about 2:45 this afternoon, and I started to think on Christ.
What would Christ be like in these situations? How would he react? I remember him speaking to the woman at the well in John 4. He told her in verse 13 & 14 "Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
So Jesus gave freely, without reservation, and as he gave he taught. I am also reminded of all the many, many times he healed in scripture. To the point of exhaustion on his part, but he could not turn the people away. Jesus loved these people! He knew their hearts. He knew that some were there just to get what they could get and then leave. He knew that there would be very few out of the crowds who would genuinely follow him. But that did not stop him to helping them.
He is my example. Where I can, I will serve. Where I can, I will serve and speak of His love. Where I can, I will remember that it is not about me, or how I think someone should feel, act, or appreciate what is being done, but I will do as my Savior calls me too.
I am also reminded that those that Christ spoke most critically too, where the religious leaders, who should have known better, and been about doing His work, instead of getting so stuck in observing the law, and making new laws.
Christ was about loving! He was about not condemning, but also he would not excuse their sin. He told the woman caught in adultery to "go and sin no more" John 8:11, but he loved her.
These are things I MUST remember!
4 comments:
Kim, I struggle with this, too. I'll have to tell you about an experience we had sometimes...
I'm so with you! I am guilty of being a Pharisee far too often. I think that those of us who are conservative Christians can fall into this quite easily, and it's good, and necessary to be reminded of the love part. I need that reminding quite often, to follow the way Christ did things - to teach with authority, firmness and love!
God taught me that the result is not up to us--we are just responsible to obey. It wasn't a fun lesson and it included recruiting others to help, too.
So now I try to ignore results and focus on my obedience. Not always easy!
Great post. I echo your commitment of "Where I can, I will serve and speak of His love."
Blessings,
Pamela
I do like what Pamela said - it's hard as leaders though because we want people to 'get it' and 'live it' and not 'complain about it'. And for me having that focus takes the joy away from serving. So I have to constantly keep my heart in check and not be frustrated but know that God is also working in me as I serve. It's a battle of the flesh.
It's funny really b/c we are a new church plant and I'm considering how our women's ministry should look and I really want it to be a service based ministry and not so much entertainment - but giving (serve) receiving (being taught the Word) I need some service ideas ....
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