Signficance in the Kingdom

"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord's work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

(1 Corinthians 15:58)

Last night, I attended the midweek service at our church which was called out mainly for all the workers and volunteers of the church. I'm so blessed!

Our pastor is still young in shepherding our congregation after he'd taken over caring for the flock when our senior pastor (his brother) came to be with the Lord about 2yrs ago, but he and his wife is (yes,"is"! go figure ^_^) doing a great job of leading us to where God intends us to be.

We've always been taught and reminded of the basic steps to becoming a fruitful, progressive disciple of Christ...to FOLLOW..to SERVE..to GO..

In "FOLLOWing", we learn about God's ways, revering Him, studying & obeying His Word, imitating His likeness to take on the full persona of a "saved" individual. Of course, just like any other "living sacrifice", we squirm, move about and fall from the altar at times, bruising ourselves or taking on dirt here and there. Yet, our loving heavenly Father picks us up, cleanses us and heals us, seeing us only with eyes full of love and deals with us with abounding grace because of the righteousness of Jesus enveloping our being...we take only the best possible care we can get when we truly rest in Him and abide in His words. This relationship depicts the vertical direction of the cross..God to man, man to God.

"The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him." (Lamentations 3:25)

 "And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)

 "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength." (Deuteronomy 6:5)

Then the next step is when we feel it deep down in our spirits that all the love we have for God must show itself in more ways than mere sitting and listening during teachings, conferences and bible studies..we now are called to "SERVE".

Since we now have a great deal of awareness of our strengths, talents, potentials and spiritual gifts (probably affirmed by our co-followers of Christ or other God-sent people), we explore church ministries to serve others through our presence, time, skills or money. At this time, we still learn about obedience and submission and practice it through following our leaders and all God-appointed human authority over us. We learn to work and serve harmoniously with other people (people who used to be like you, still on the "FOLLOW" stage, and people who are now like you, serving). This relationship depics the horizontal direction of the cross..man to man.

"Be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility." (1 Peter 5:5)

"Let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth." (1 John 3:18)

The Scripture above in 1 Corinthians 15:58 encourages all followers and workers to be fruitful in the service, occupied in the issues and needs of the Kingdom. We are not mainly serving people for the sake of service but we are serving a great big God, and because we love Him, we serve Him..and because we know His heart, we love what He loves--people. May love be our primary reason for service. If that is, all other perks just come along with it. Such as what? you may ask..such as an extended family. A place where you belong, people who share the same passion as you, a sense of fulfillment, and the wonderful experience of "one anothering". But just like any other family, differences may pose as a problem only if we tend to see it that way. May our differences be sharpening tools to keep us on our toes and remind us that God is still ever at work in our lives. Cut the other person some slack! You'll never know, maybe another person is cutting you a great deal of slack as well.

"No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us." (1 John 4:12)

"Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing." (Psalm 100:2)

As time passes by in the "SERVE" stage, there will be a greater churning in our spirits that is calling out for more..much more significance. We are now called to "GO". This may lead us outside of our comfort zones..outside of the confines of the church building..outside our own worlds. We are ushered to a whole new world of greater differences, animosity or indifference. Be of good cheer! God does not lead us to where He hasn't set foot first. He has overcome the world, what are we to be afraid of?

"You are the salt and light of the earth..You are the light that gives light to the world.." (Matthew 5:13-14)

"He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6)

SHALOM! SHALOM! (greater double portion of God's overwhelming blessings for you and me!) ^_^