Chosen

1 Peter 2:4-12

What defines you? What is your identity? Is it your career or what you do such as being a parent a student or an athlete? Is it where you live? Is it some great accomplishment; or something shameful that you did? Is it a physical trait like the shape of your body or how attractive you are?

Whatever it is, one thing is for sure; your identity sets the course of your life. It gives direction to your attitudes, your beliefs, and your decisions.

In Peter’s letter, he wrote to believers that were living in a precarious time. Followers of Christ were being persecuted daily, sometimes at the cost of their lives. Peter speaks to the core of their condition… their identity. Their identity will define them because it will determine how they respond and live their lives of faith.

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. NIV

9-10 But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted. MSG

These two translations of the same verses give you insights into who you are as a believer; into what, or who defines you.

You have been chosen by God to tell others about the difference that God has made in your life.

You have been chosen not because you are holy, but to be holy through God’s mercy.

You have been chosen to be a part of the people of God; not a lone ranger. You have been chosen because God has a plan and a purpose for your life. You are a child of God, chosen by Him to serve and to love Him. That is your identity. That is what defines you.

SERVE Period

41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10: 41-45


Today’s scripture is one that always reminds me how flawed the disciples were. We see two brothers trying to vie for a place of honor, once they are in heaven with Jesus. James and John have a private conversation with Jesus asking him to set them apart from all the other disciples. Jesus, of course, uses this as a teachable moment, explaining to all of them what it means to become great.

This passage is probably familiar to most of us. Jesus words, “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be a slave of all.” Although the familiarity of the words make it easy to quote, the lesson is much harder to put into action.

For the past two years, my family has served at Coastal Community Church, in South Florida. One of my favorite things our church does is, "Serve Saturday". On the first Saturday of each month we go to the same neighborhood and serve the residence there. The Senior Pastor designed t-shirts for us to wear that simply reads, "SERVE." on the front.

“The Christians are here; the Christians are here!” Those are the excited cries that can be heard from one of the houses on my block, in Collier City. On the first Saturday of every month, while a team from my church serves hot dog, chips, snow cones and provide fun activities for kids, I am fortunate to walk down “my block” and visit the families.

Each month I am blessed with conversations, where I’m able to encourage the residence as I catch up on what has been happening in their lives. I am filled with joy as I pray with them over health, financial, or family struggles; and play with the children who joyfully run out of the homes excited that the Christians are here.

It’s more than mere houses on a street. These are families with stories, stresses, and successes. Walk down any street in America and you will find families in need. In Collier City, though, the stresses seem to outweigh the successes.

That’s where we come in. Knocking on the doors is just the beginning. It’s started with conversations, then month after month I got to know the names that match the faces. Before I knew it when I prayed for Verna, Anna, Luis, James and Maria, Mac and Louise, Jerry and Lily, I not only know their faces, and their stories, I know their hearts.

Collier City is about showing who Jesus is through serving. Period. We expect nothing in return. We share ourselves with no expectations attached. One of the values at Coastal is, Saved People Serve People and serving in Collier City is a beautiful way to show the love of Christ.

In our passage today, Jesus says, “ the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…” If we are called to be like Jesus, that is our job too. SERVE. And not just once a month but every day. Start looking today for ways you can serve. Don’t worry you do not have to be perfect. We are flawed just like the disciples were with Jesus, but he can still use us for his kingdom purpose.


Read today's entire passage here Mark 10

THE Silver Lining

Life on Mission: Serve

Matthew 5:1-12

The 2012 movie, Silver Linings Playbook, is a heartwarming story about two people who find each other in the midst of chaos and pain. Pat, after losing his job and his wife, has been recently released from a mental institution. Tiffany is a young widow who also lost her job. Together, they find their silver lining.

 An argument can be made that each Beatitude has a silver lining of its own. I like how Eugene Peterson interprets them. Here are the first three. See if you can find their silver lining.

³ “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. ⁴ “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. ⁵ “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.”

Even Jesus’ opening ministry statement in Luke 4 has an element of a silver lining. ¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, ¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

 What these verses are saying is that people are more likely to reach out to God when life is painful; when hardships are upon us; when we are dealing with difficulties. Pain, hardships and difficulties can all lead to a silver lining. We’ve all had them in our life.

 Pastor Cam Huxford shared in the DVD about a group of women at his church in Savannah who would take baked goods to the young women who worked at a nearby strip club. He pointed out that most women who work in the adult entertainment industry have been abused as a child.

 Here’s a group of individuals that are extremely needy. Their hearts have been broken; their lives shattered. What an opportunity to serve. What an opportunity to share the love of Christ.

 

 Jesus knew how needy people were. Those are the ones he served. Prostitutes, lepers, demon possessed, tax collectors, the blind and the lame: he touched their lives one at a time.

He was their Silver Lining. He has called us to serve and to share THE Silver Lining with those in need. Will you do it?

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Teaching

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 

Envision the Holy breath of God, exhaling His own words through the air into the heads and hearts of the scripture writers. Through them the Lords message was placed onto common scrolls transforming simple parchment into sacred documents from Heaven. What an honor to have been chosen by God as a vehicle for expressing His love.

Those writers were common folk, as are you and I. They became teachers as they discovered God’s design for themselves. Throughout the ages, their writings have impacted and changed the course of history.

We do not have to be teachers by profession to be instructors in the way of an honorable life. Others learn from us by our every word and action.

Romans 12:5 speaks of those in Christ belonging to each other. Our spiritual gifts are expressions of the Holy Spirit. I recall being stirred to reality a couple years ago when one of our young Pastors delivered a message on spiritual gifts, he summarized them as follows:

Prophecy         bringing the message of God to his people

Service            always seeking needs

Teaching         helping people understand biblical truth

Exhortation     an encourager-build people up

Giving             give freely to others to bring glory to God without recognition

Leader             get people organized and focused on God’s plan

Mercy             compassion, kindness, empathy-drawn to the hurting

Though I AM a teacher by vocation, I see that teaching is not necessarily my spiritual gift. Perhaps I am teaching in order to use my spiritual gifts to reach others who may not have otherwise been reachable. What are your spiritual gifts, and how are you using them to reach and teach; to change the course of history for yourself, and for others?

Acts 6:1-7

Life alone in the north woods of WI can be very peaceful and calming, but it can also become very lonely.  I found myself wondering what I was doing there and discovered I felt like I had no purpose any longer; no real reason to get up each morning.  So, I put this revelation into prayer form and entered it into my journal, seeking God's guidance and plan for me.  Of course he responded quickly. "Serve," was the word I sensed.

I called my pastor and asked if there was something I could be doing at the church, a way I could serve and help.  That was all it took.  I know if I want to feel better about myself, to feel valued and useful, service is the answer.  My attitude, outlook and heart changed almost overnight.

We can track service in Church back to the early church.  Acts 6 is thought to be the story of the first church deacons.  Deacons can be likened to a Care ministry in a church.  The fastest way to forget your troubles and pain is to reach out to help others.  Try it, you will be amazed at the blessings and the change in your heart.

"In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6:1-4)
Read the Acts 6:1-7 text here.  Listen to the words here.

John 13

Our scripture passage today is another popular one. We have all probably heard the story of Jesus washing his disciples feet, countless times over the years. Some of us may have even participated in a foot washing service ourselves. Why is this passage talked about so often?

The night of Jesus’ arrest he shares the Passover meal with his disciples. Knowing that Judas was going to hand him over to the Jewish leaders, Jesus takes the time he has left, for one more lesson. What lessons in school do you remember the most? I remember the lessons where I was able to participate, but I really remember the ones that took me by surprise.

Jesus definitely takes his disciples by surprise with this final lesson. I just love how Jesus shows his followers how he expects them to serve others, through his service to them. Jesus removes every excuse that could possibly be given for not serving others.

If it wasn’t beneath Jesus it shouldn’t be beneath the disciples (or us) to serve others. If Jesus didn’t feel that, what he was going through personally gave him reason enough to take the night off, we too shouldn’t take a break if we feel the pressures of life surrounding us.

This passage explains that the essence of serving Christ is through serving others, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”
 
Read the entire passage at Biblegateway John 13

The Day I Fed Jesus-Matthew 25:31-46

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:40


Have you ever had a song stuck in your head? You may even be in the middle of doing something before you knew you were singing the song. A few years ago while serving with a youth group on a mission trip I had a moment like that.

I taught the morning devotion on Matthew 25, and explained to the students how, when we serve others we are serving Jesus. With the thought of blessing others and God still fresh in our minds we headed out to a local soup kitchen. I was given the job of personally handing the tray of food to each diner.

Some of the guests came by and would look me in the eye, while others walked by without raising their head. I wondered about each story. It was then that I realized I had been humming a song while I passed out each tray.

Maybe you know the song, “I Will Live My Life For You.” I was unconsciously humming a line of the chorus and when realization hit, I couldn’t stop the tears. You see, as I passed out a tray I would hum, “You are Lord of Lords,” then another tray, “You are King of Kings,” another tray, “You are Mighty God, over everything.”

It was the most wonderful experience. I was reminded how each tray of food I served, served Jesus. I didn’t need to know their story to bless them. What was important was that I understood Jesus received each tray.

Read today's passage at Biblegateway Matthew 25:31-46

Thanks Through First Fruits Giving

I never connected thanksgiving with stewardship or tithing before now. Having spent a good portion of the last 6 weeks learning about giving with a good attitude and discovering why this is important has caused the light bulb to shine. How much richer is life when it is lived in gratefulness and not ingratitude. The world does not owe me, but I owe my creator everything!

A few years ago a man noticed my husband's license plate which touted the words "USMC Vietnam Vet". He approached my husband, stuck out his hand and said, "Thank you for your service." I was stunned, but my husband just grabbed the man’s hand and acknowledged the tribute.

Thanks are always appreciated and often deserved. Just think how much we owe to God. I can only imagine how many times he saved my life or the life of someone I love. How many times has God shown me only love, when I deserved His wrath.

When I acknowledge God's generosity to me by giving Him the 'first fruits' from the harvest, I am paying tribute to Him for his loving service to me.

To read the complete text for today click here .  To return to this posting hit the back arrow.

A New Way To Help, Luke 7:11-17

Has your heart ever gone out to a stranger? Can you think of a time when you helped someone you didn’t know and they hadn’t even asked for your help? You just saw they had great need and so you gave them a hand. We can all think of times when we have helped a friend or even a stranger who asked for help but have you stopped and gave to the silently needy.

I hope I’m not putting you on the spot today. I was just struck in a new way with today’s scripture. Luke says that as Jesus is entering a town called Nain he sees a widow who is now burying her only son and his heart goes out to her. Jesus turns to the woman and says, “Don’t cry” he then tells the boy to get up.

We see all through scripture Jesus healing people who ask him for help. Jesus even heals those who secretly reach out and touch his robe. This time though we see Christ offering to help a total stranger who hasn’t even asked for his help. Wow! Let’s be like Jesus and not only help those who come to us with a need, but let’s be aware of those who don’t even ask.

Read today passage on Biblegateway Luke 7:11-17

Confidence Killers, John 21:1-25

Have you ever messed up? I mean really messed up. You took a risk at work and failed miserably, or invested money and lost it all. Perhaps you tried to take a short cut on a home repair and ended up paying more just fixing your mistake, than the entire job should have cost.

We all make mistakes. Sometimes those blunders cost us more than money, they cost us our confidence. It’s hard to “get back on the horse” after disappointment. We live as though our past failure now defines us, rather than seeing it as an isolated incident or an opportunity to learn.

Our scripture passage today, touches my heart. Peter is asked by Jesus if he loves him. His response is so telling. Each time Jesus asks Peter he replies “Yes, you know I love you.” The third time Jesus asks, Peter is hurt and replies, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Peter is correct, Jesus knows all things. He knows the depth of Peter's love, but Jesus also knows Peter is insecure and requires reassurance. He needs to believe that his denial of Christ is not a reflection of his love, but rather his fear.

Jesus is comforting Peter not questioning him. He is saying, “I know you love me, but do you?” Jesus wants Peter to get beyond the guilt of betraying him and to “get back on the horse” and serve.

Jesus is confident that our failures don’t define us, He does.

Read the entire passage on Biblegateway John 21:15-25