Add in an anonymous post today - How have you wrestled with one of these questions, in relation to serving the Lord?
- Does what I do make any difference? (2:1)
- Is it worth the trouble? (2:2)
- What will people think? (2:3)
- Will God really use me? (2:4)
They are good questions--valid questions--we need to face them and not duck them... and God has real answers.
3 comments:
I think you have touched on four real issues people struggle with. I know I personaly have struggled at times with a couple of them, particularly the first one. I know in my head that its what God does through me not what I do. But, I become overwhelmed with my own shortcoming and failures.
1.Does what I do make a difference?
I keep a file in my desk its entitled "encouragement". Over the last several years I've filled it with scraps of paper and notes from people who have said that what I've done has made a difference. When ever I'm in doubt I will thumb through these seemingly unimportant documents and whell up with gratitude. I feel life can often be like the story in which Jesus heals the ten lepars. Only one comes back to say thank you. Whenever we interact with people and they turn around to say thank you we should store that up and remember it.
2.Is it worth the trouble?
Yes! Although I often get bogged down in "stuff". At the end of the day it will be the lives we touched which will really matter. I think of the innumerable programs dedicated to youth and small children in churches. Given some of the great pressing needs facing the Church these programs may seem insignificant. The truth is its the less overt service to the "least of these" which really brings vitality to a church.
3.What will people think?
I may say I dont care what people think but thats not the full truth. We were created for glory and we seek it out in healthy and unhealthy ways. Regardless of what you do your always going to have your critics. I can handle "arrows" from the front, its the ones which come from behind that hurt the most. Impenetrability isnt the goal, its the abillity to learn from your critics, adjust to fair criticism, and to disregard unjust criticism. We ultimatley move forward because its the calling and voice of Christ which calls us back to the front lines.
4. Will God really use me?
Yes! God can use anyone, and thats not just a cliche, he really can. God has used the most unlikely people in my own life. I can count dozens of people at BPBC alone who in their own quirky way loved me into the kingdom. Ironically its when I think people are least aware of it the Lord uses them. I don't believe any of the people who impacted me were even aware of the way the Lord was using them to minister to my heart. They never set out to "evangelize" me, they just cared and loved in tangible palatable ways. Thank God for the unaware and genuine people he has called to be his hands and feet.
Jon Siebert
Young Life
pastor bob & julie,
i can't come to BPBC right now, but i get copies of your messages and listen to them. i'm always amazed at the insights you get out of very familiar stories, eg daniel or jericho, that you then apply to real, current life. thanks.
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