Last week we learned that God provides opportunities for us to be the church in a big way. Our response should be to say ‘yes’ to the invitation with faith knowing that serving God is more important than our occupation, our family or even our very lives. We say yes trusting God for answers, resources and courage to enable us to do far more than we ever imagined possible.
Here are four things you can do:
1. Don’t get discouraged and quit.
2. Pray for guidance and wisdom.
3. Find something you can do and do it.
4. God wants you to think bigger.
Can it be that simple? Years ago, I would struggle to give a good answer. Our church was growing and active in the community but we were not a mission oriented church. Then several members traveled to Jamaica offering medical aid and construction help. We were becoming eager for opportunities.
We stepped out in faith to share our church with Lawyers Road Missionary Baptist Church after a tornado destroyed their building. Then, Jim Adams, one of our members led a community wide effort to help them rebuild. Today their beautiful new church still stands as a testimony to what one individual, one church and one community can do to help others.
1. Don’t get discouraged and quit.
2. Pray for guidance and wisdom.
3. Find something you can do and do it.
4. God wants you to think bigger.
Paul wrote in the Bible about one church helping another: “For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford but far more. And they did it of their own free will. They begged us again and again for the gracious privilege of sharing.” (2 Corinthians 8:3-4)
“The gracious privilege of sharing.”
As followers of God we are judged not by church attendance, Bible study or the size of our offering. These aspects of our faith will help us become better Christians but what really sets us apart from everyone is how we practice “the gracious privilege of sharing” and generously respond to the needy.
But giving is about so much more than money: sharing is a lifestyle and a ministry that radically involves your time, skills and enthusiasm. Paul goes on to write: “Since you excel in so many ways-you have so much faith, such gifted speakers, such knowledge, such enthusiasm, and such love for us, now I want you to excel also in this gracious ministry of giving.” (2 Cor. 8:7)
There it is again: “I want you to excel in this gracious ministry of giving.”
Several of us visited “Gleaning for the World,” an agency specializing in getting equipment and supplies to the poorest countries in the world. Our first project involved sorting large bales of used hospital linens to be shipped to third-world countries. Within a matter of days, a large truck unloaded huge tightly packed bales of linens that when unpacked literally filled our gymnasium. Hundreds of volunteers from three years old to the elderly, converged upon our church and for the next few days we sorted, folded and boxed literally thousands of hospital gowns and sheets.
Remember:
1. Don’t get discouraged and quit.
2. Pray for guidance and wisdom.
3. Find something you can do and do it.
4. God wants you to think bigger.
God kept challenging our church to think bigger and miracles happened.
Can we say ‘yes’ with faith to God’s invitation knowing that serving our Lord is more important than our occupation, our family and even our very lives? Of course we can. We say yes trusting God for answers, resources and courage to enable us to do far more than we ever imagined.
God is sending you an invitation: How will you respond?
