Marching Orders

1 Peter 4:7-11

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%204%3A7-11&version=NIV;NLT

 

 

Back in the day, about 1971, I lived in a house of Christian guys across from the campus of Michigan State University. There were five of us, and each person had their own unique individuality.

 

One of my roommates was kind of an anti-establishment type guy; a bit of a rebel. He had long hair and a bushy beard, but beyond that, he seemed to think of himself as a philosophical and theological thinker.  Someone who thought outside of the box; who marched to the beat of his own drum.

 

He also had a heart for the down and out. As a result, there were a few times when he brought a stranger back to our house to eat a meal, and even to stay overnight. Most of these people were not from the mainstream - if you get my drift.

 

But for him, this was how he reached out to others and shared the Good News of Christ with them. He stretched the faith of all of us in the house, and set an example for us to follow. Maybe not by doing exactly what he did, but to follow the principle of what he did. It’s the same principle that Peter wrote about.

 

⁸ Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. ⁹ Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. ¹⁰ God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. NLT

 

In reality, my roommate wasn’t marching to the beat of his own drum. He was marching to the beat of his Lord and Savior. That’s the same beat that you and I as followers of Christ need to follow. And when we do, then we will be in line with these words of Peter.

 

… ^11bDo it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.            NLT

 

Do you hear the beat of the drum? Of His drum? Then I guess that means you have your marching orders.

 

 

 

 

Gifts for the Good of All

1 Corinthians 12:4-11

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2012%3A4-11&version=NIV;GNT

 

  

The National Football League recently completed their draft. Out of the first 10 draft picks, 4 were quarterbacks. That gives you an idea of how important the quarterback position is.

 

However, Josh Rosen, the quarterback out of UCLA, apparently thought he was more important than the nine players picked before him. After being drafted number ten, an angry Rosen was quoted as saying, "There were nine mistakes ahead of me."

 

Think about it though. What would happen if when he drops back to pass his linemen don’t block? Or if the center doesn’t snap the ball correctly? Or if the receivers just stand there instead of running their routes? Everyone has a role to play. Everyone has a set of skills or gifts to contribute to the good of the team.

 

⁴ There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them. ⁵ There are different ways of serving, but the same Lord is served. ⁶ There are different abilities to perform service, but the same God gives ability to all for their particular service... ¹¹But it is one and the same Spirit who does all this; as he wishes, he gives a different gift to each person.           GNT

 

 

Just like in football, we have a role to play in the Body of Christ. The Spirit has given us gifts to be used for the good of the “team”. It may not be one of those gifts listed in 1 Corinthians, but, the gifts of the Spirit are not limited by lists.

 

What are you good at doing? What do you enjoy doing? What do you feel passionate about? What is the highlight of your day, your week, your month, your year? Figure out the answers to these questions, and you’ve discovered the gifts that God has given you. Then, find a way to use them in His service.

 

Every Sunday morning, at the beginning of our church service, my Pastor welcomes visitors and then says, “My name is Jerry Kasberg. I’m one of the ministers here because each of us is gifted to care for one another.”

 

In other words…

 

⁷ The Spirit's presence is shown in some way in each person for the good of all.              GNT

 

 

 

 

Don’t Try to be a Quarterback

1 Corinthians 12:1-12

Last Sunday was Super Bowl LII in all its pageantry. TV, newspapers, radio, social media and the Internet were filled with hype during the two weeks leading up to the game. All of this, culminating in pre-game shows that lasted all day long.

 The star of the game was the MVP – Nick Foles. He is the back-up quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles who stepped in for the injured starter late in the season. But as good as he played, he couldn’t have done it by himself.

What would have happened if everyone played quarterback? Wouldn’t that be silly! There would be nobody to block, nobody to run, nobody to receive passes. Instead, each player used his skills to help the Eagles achieve an improbable victory.

 The same is true for the body of Christ. We all have our own God given gifts.

⁴ There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. ⁵ There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. ⁶ God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. ⁷ A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.      NLT

Everyone wants to be a star. Maybe not in the traditional sense of an athlete or an entertainer. But in the sense that we all want to do something significant; something that makes a difference; something that we do well because we’re gifted at doing it. God wants you to be a star in the very best sense of the word.

 He created you with certain gifts and abilities to accomplish this.

 ¹³ For you created my inmost being;

    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful, I know that full well.     Psalm 139 NIV

 He created you with a plan for your life.

 ¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2 NIV

 So don’t try to be a quarterback when you’re a lineman. Learn what gifts God has given you, and then faithfully use them in His service. And then, like Nick Foles, persevere because who knows, maybe someday you’ll be in the Super Bowl.

Saved People, Serve People...Without Grumbling

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. -1 Peter 4:7-11

This passage is hitting me right between the eyes today.  Has the word of God ever done that to you?   I found myself having to do something that I don't want to be doing today, and I have a very bad attitude about it, all the while I can feel God whispering to me, “This is what serving me is all about.”  So taking a break, I looked at my devotion text assigned to me...  Wham! Right between the eyes!

Our passage today says, “love others deeply... Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling... If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.”

I think my problem is I don't see my everyday interactions with the people near me as opportunities to serve.  Serving others always seems to be something I plan for, but true service probably shows up in spontaneous, not planned for situations doesn't it.  That means my heart has to always be ready.  Ouch!

If you are like me and struggle with spontaneous service, it might help to remember a couple things.

1. Serving other starts with loving them.  See the person or people you are serving as ones needing love.
2. Remember how much you have been given and forgiven.  It’s always good to get a little perspective, remembering that God sees our needs and gives generously.
3. Ask God for help.  We are often put in situations beyond our ability, even our ability to love. Ask God to help give the strength and heart needed to serve.

So I am going to stop grumbling and rely on God’s strength so he can get the glory in Christ Jesus.

Search My Heart

Philippians 2: 1-11 is one of my favorite passages in scripture. My bible is filled with notes on this page. I love how it lists benefits we receive being a follower of Christ; encouragement, fellowship, tenderness and compassion.  I experience these wonderful benefits most, when I am around other believers.

The passage immediately gives us a challenge. God doesn’t want us to only stay around situations where we only experience these benefits. We are called to take those benefits and serve others.  As a Christian this shouldn't be a surprise.  We hear and read that our job is to serve.  But, this is where a lot of us struggle.

I think there are three kinds of Christians when it comes to serving others.  

1. The one who “gets” it.  Serving seems to flow from them.  It is who they are. They give of themselves freely.
2. The one who serves but it just doesn’t seem or feel natural.  They serve because they know it is what God wants.
3. The one who leaves serving to others.  They will give their money and donate items to their church or community outreach projects, but they think they are not gifted to serve.

No matter where you may fall, I believe we can all check our heart with regards to serving. If you relate to the third example, let me encourage you. I have not read anywhere in the bible where serving others is only for those naturally gifted to do so.

God has called you to serve!  Philippians 2: 5-7 tells us, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus...he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant…”

I think the rub comes with, WHO and HOW do we serve…

WHO do we serve?  Paul says in Philippians, “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit...consider others better than yourself.”  

If we have a hard time serving, we have possibly put ourselves in a higher position than the one we are called to serve. Is there a particular group of people or even a singular person, you think you're better than? I know this is a hard question, but spend some time honestly searching your heart.  Take time to pray about it, asking God to reveal the truth.

When you see who it is you put “below” yourself, THIS is WHO you should serve.

So, HOW should we serve? Philippians 2:3 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”

In humility.  This is hard.  The easiest way to serve in humility is when we've been humbled. It can feel very humbling when we realize we put ourselves before so many others.  This is a good place to start. It will take HUMILITY and faith, and when you are not sure you can do it, remember; Jesus did it for you.