The Recognition, part 21: desire to serve

Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him. And as these were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah"-not realizing what he was saying. (Luke 9:32-33 NASB)

Poor Peter. He gets much criticism for the things he says, and this is one of those times. There is, however, something beautiful about the words he said here. He had been asleep, as had James and John. When he awakened, Peter opened his eyes to see Jesus, Moses, and Elijah in heavenly attire, their clothing so gleaming it had the appearance of lightning flashes coming from it. Peter's first response was one of worship, honor, and service. He wanted to build tabernacles (movable tents made of branches or animal hides) to honor all three men. The glory he saw before him inspired service. It made him want to do something, and isn't that what understanding Who Jesus is should do for us? Should we not also want to serve Him when we understand that this Son of Man is the Son of God? 

Perhaps Peter wanted to build a tabernacle much as the early patriarchs set up stones of remembrance. He may have wanted to commemorate the experience and have a place to which he could return and remember the glorious sight. That was not to be, but Peter would carry that sight of the glorified men with him for the rest of his life. He didn't need a tabernacle. The vision of glory was so profound that he would never forget. He, like Mary at the birth of her Son, would treasure and ponder for years to come. 

Moses and Elijah were leaving Jesus, heading back to heaven. The home to which they were returning was so much more beautiful than that one which Peter would build that there is no comparison. In heaven the streets are paved with gold. That which we hold as so valuable in this world is nothing more than gravel and pavement in heaven. A home of branches and skins is such a meager offering in comparison, as are the things we treasure here on earth. 

If we could open our eyes and see Jesus in all His glory, as the three disciples did, we, too, might be moved to do great things for God. We, too, might want to serve. May God grant each of us the kind of vision that sees the permanence and glory of heavenly things and the transience of earthly things, and moves us to value them accordingly. May our vision, our understanding, of Christ move us to serve with enthusiasm the One to whom all honor is due. 

Lessons from the Battlefield, part 21: Motivation

Ezra 3:3 “So they set up the altar on its foundation, for they were terrified because of the peoples of the land.”

Because of their sin, the people of Israel had been taken into captivity. Just as

God had said, they remained in captivity for seventy years, and just as God had said, Cyrus released the exiles to return home if they desired. On their return to Israel, the people committed themselves to repairing and restoring the temple. They began by building an altar and reinstituting sacrifices. 

After all God had done for them, you would think that love would motivate their sacrifices. You might even think that fear of this God who had once again demonstrated His ability to deliver would be a motivator for obedience. Not so. These returning captives built the altar

“because they were terrified of the people around them.” They were not obeying because of their great love for their Lord. They were not obeying because they feared the God who had delivered them. They were obeying because they were afraid of the people around them. They simply wanted what God could do for them and the insurance of His protection from the people around them. There was nothing of love or relationship in their service. 

There are many reasons for service to God. Sometimes we attend church services, give our time and our money, and serve in a variety of ways because it is how we were reared and we've always done it. Sometimes our motivation for service is the community standing it affords. Serving God can easily become more about habit than about love or relationship, and periodically we should do a motivation check. Why do we do the things we do for the Kingdom of God? Does love motivate our service?

The Apostle Paul wrote sobering words about our service, saying that our works will be tried by fire. Only those that remain will merit a reward. 

Read his words here: 

Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:12-15 NASB)

Dear ones, let us so order our heart and our motivations that the service we render is done with a pure heart of love and surrender to our Lord.  May we render works that stand the test of fire and yield a harvest of fruit that lasts. 

Delighting in Doing

In the fictional village of Mitford, the mayor's slogan is "We take care of our own."  In the very real town of Blue Springs, it is understood that "We take care of each other."  We aren't perfect at it, but we try. In a way, that's the "motto" of the body of Christ, too. I guess it would be more accurate for the body of Christ to say, "We see a need and we meet it."  

I've recently been involved with a group of young ladies who are doing just that. They have seen a need and are meeting it. To avoid spoiling their surprise, that's all the details you get for now. Here's what's amazing about their effort. Once the need was known, everyone has pitched in to help. One young woman is good with lists. She made a list of the needs. Others are good with meeting one need or another on the list. Each has risen to the occasion to meet the need that most fits their abilities. Over the course of the last few days, what has happened is nothing short of miraculous. Almost every need is already met, and in a lovely, coordinated way. 

It's not quite time to "spring the surprise" but these ladies are so excited about being a part of what God is doing that they can hardly wait. In fact, I can hardly wait with them. They are delighting in doing, and it is a lovely thing to watch. 

Several verses have come to mind as I have watched God at work, but one has seemed especially pertinent. It's from the description of the virtuous woman...  "She extends her hand to the poor, And she stretches out her hands to the needy." (Proverbs 31:13, 20 NASB).  That's what these young women are doing. Here's what's really exciting for me. These ladies are so focused on their task that they may not have realized they are doing something that comes with promised blessings. The last part of Proverbs 31 tells us the outcome for the virtuous woman, this helper of the poor and needy. 

"Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates." (Proverbs 31:28, 31 KJV)

What wonderful promises! Nothing that has been done was with the expectation of praise or accolades.   One day, though, they will receive them, and it will be icing on the cake. For now, the joy of service is all the reward they want.

They've seen a need and they've met it, and had a glorious time doing it. Maybe you should find a need to meet, too!

Healing the Fever - part five

And standing over her, He rebuked the fever, and it left her; and she immediately got up and waited on them. (Luke 4:39 NASB)

My maxim for patients with fever is to remain off work or out of school until they have been free of fever for at least twenty-fours. It allows a little time to be sure the patient is no longer contagious and allows the patient a little recovery time after the illness abates. It's standard medical care. Peter's mother-in-law, however, did not receive standard medical care, she received Divine medical care. She did not waste a minute, let alone 24 hours, after her fever subsided.  She did not loll about in bed while people celebrated her improvement and she didn't run about proclaiming that Jesus had healed her. She hopped out of bed and went to work, ministering to the needs of her guests.  She demonstrated what God had done for her by her enthusiastic service. She was the epitome of "saved to serve". Hers is an example we would do well to emulate. 

Jesus and Peter were, of course, perfectly capable of finding food for themselves, but they were guests in her home. I can't imagine much worse than having Jesus in my house for lunch while I was stuck in the bed, unable to feed Him all my carefully prepared dishes. It would have been a tragic missed opportunity to become better acquainted with the visiting Savior. 

It's not always physical illness that causes us to miss opportunities to become better acquainted with Jesus and develop a deeper relationship with Him, is it?  Most of the time, we are ABLE to come to our Lord, but we choose not to do so. Yuck. That sounds awful, doesn't it? I'd like to think that it's those times of busyness when I'm likely to stray away, but that's not true. Generally speaking (at least for this sinner) a wrong attitude leads to wrong words or, even worse, wrong words and wrong actions, and I immediately feel terrible. I'm pretty quick to ask for forgiveness but I'm not always quick to change my attitude, which is where true repentance begins. 

Somehow, in that jumble of sin, I don't really want to approach the throne of mercy and grace, when that is the main thing I need. The problem with that very stupid hesitation is that it can easily become the starting point for more wrong. Here's my suggestion (really, it's God's): when we draw near to God and ask Him to forgive and cleanse, He is quick to do so. He is also extremely nice about it!  There's no need for missed opportunities at all!

Today, look at your own life. Are you missing opportunities to know Jesus better? If so, take action. You will be so glad you did. 

Pray today that the choices our loved ones make will not push them further from Christ, but that they will draw near to Him. Pray for an end to missed opportunities and a return to full relationship and joyful service.