Love, Serve, and Disciple

As I shopped for a few odds and ends yesterday, I saw some fear and panic on faces as they gazed upon empty shelves of toilet paper.

I also saw compassion and people helping one another. It was as if two choices were present right before my eyes.

Will we trust God and continue on our mission to love, serve, and disciple others? Or, will we turn inward, withdraw and be lost in the realm of self-focus and hoarding?

Take time today to focus on those around you who may have a need. This will require you to intentionally take your eyes off your self and serve.

In the midst of difficult circumstances, love goes a long way. In the midst of favorable conditions, likewise, love goes a long way. May we be found to be loving in all cases that the Lord may be glorified and His people blessed.

#mpwarrior

#begracious

#loveservedisciple

For your freedom was not for self, but that, through love, you would serve others.  Before you were a new creation, you could not even serve as you were designed.  Stay focused on Christ and your mission.  Make no provision for your flesh.  Radically amputate all paths back to those old sins.  Put on the full armor and ready yourself for battle.  Know that He goes before you as a consuming fire!  He has secured the victory.   Refocus your mind to serve through love. 

Reflection

What area are you most prone to give your flesh opportunity to have its way?

How can you make no provision for the flesh in that area? 

In what ways are you leaving a door open to those old sins?

What must you do to radically amputate the sin in your life?

Prayer

Father give us the mind of Christ; focused and ovedient.  Let us serve others through love and leave the opportunities for our flesh behind.  Let us embrace your victories and walk in the good works you have prepared in advance for us to walk in.  Amen!

The top 2 questions I get asked are, “How do I share my faith?” And “How do I change the world?” This would often be called our testimony.  While each person has there own unique story that needs to be told, the substance of the story is really God’s rescue mission of us.  You can attend classes, seminars, and workshops that help you formulate a plan and craft your story, and that’s great;   However, people really want to see the impact your relationship with God has had on you.  We can have the greatest story in the world and without action it is just another story. 

There were hundreds of cars passing by this woman on the street with drivers looking away assuming someone else will help or citing how “these people” are making thousands of dollars per year.   Did she need words or judgement in that moment?   My daughter saw that she was hungry physically and spiritually.  Our testimony is not only words but also actions.  There are 3 actions that come to mind that communicate our faith and change the world. 

STEP 1 – LOVE

What really has the power to grab our attention, cast out fear and cover a multitude of sins? Only love. Love has the power to do something that the 4 spiritual laws can’t. It pierces the depths of a person’s soul and shatters the need and notions of performance, leaving us to make a decision to fully trust our beautiful Savior or still cling to our own efforts. You want to share your faith? Then bathe in the Father’s love and love others with that same love. 

STEP 2 – SERVE

Serving others is something all of us can do.  You don’t have to have the right words.  One of the most powerful ways we tell our story is by loving others through acts of service.  It can be as simple as holding the door for someone or sharing a smile with them. The are literally hundreds of ways to serve.  Connect with your Pastor and ask where service is needed.  Don’t be surprised if he says taking out the trash. No job is too small.    Jesus found it pleasing to wash His disciples feet.  Serving is contagious and is a catalyst for more acts of service, but more importantly, it is part of sharing our faith with others and changing our world. 

STEP 3 – DISCIPLE

I don’t want to make light of your personal testimony.  You know who and what you were before you had an encounter with Christ.  You also know what God has done since.  Praise Him for all of His work!    You can share that story without a ton of prepwork. This story needs to be told, but we don’t have to run from person to person with a drive thru version making sure we get a confession from them. 

Be willing to invest the time to bring others along with you on your journey. Share with them the areas  where God has taught you.  We are commanded to teach others to observe all that he commanded us.  This implies that we are applying and learning these commands ourselves.  Discipleship takes time. It means walking with others, helping pick them up when they fall down.  You may experience disappointment, sadness and grief.  

So there you have it. You want to share your faith and change the world?  Be ready to invest and start loving, serving, and discipline today.  You may have the opportunity to only do one of these steps with someone you meet, but in all things be about Your Father in heaven and His work.  For He has done a mighty work in you; share it in word and deed!

#truthtalk4life #knowlivespeaktruthinlove

@brianfriedl