Standing on Giant’s Shoulders – a series about remembering people who offered up their life so others could be free.
Jesus always sent his disciples out. He sent them to the highways and byways. He said, "you need to be there." There is where the poor, the needy, and the lowly are.
When we reach out to us, God impacts us as well. Our hearts get changed. When we do beautiful things for God, God does beautiful things in us.
The Workers Are Few
35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
somehow when we put ourselves out there and we let ourselves go, it's only then the God starts to rub off the rough edges and works I. Our lives. Matthew 9:34-42
At leadership camp, we're taught that's it is all about serving. When we forget what God has done in us, we lose a sense of compassion for the world around us. When we serve... when we offer ourselves, we begin to see things the way God sees them.
Jesus saw the lepers and helped them. He gave empathy to the prostitute and was reviled by the Pharisees for doing so.
Maybe God wants to send us somewhere to help others.
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:14
It's about knowing and loving God yourself so that you can serve without being drained. When we serve with God, it's like he fuels us. He keeps us filled us so that we can pour out into others' lives. Sometimes serving wears us out and therefore we have to remember to seek God.
Sometimes we serving can be about us... We're looking for something in return.
Currently, charities are in a crisis of volunteerism because donors are getting donor fatigue and volunteerism is dropping off. The pending perfect storm is that it's at a time when governments are withdrawing funding support to charities.
We know that God loves us so much that He wants to send us out.
When we step to do something beautiful for others, He steps out to do something beautiful to us.
You can listen to the audio version of this message at
http://www.calvaryunited.com/10121/blogentry/entry_id/269020/Oct_16_2011