Scripture
Our verse for today comes from 1 Corinthians 9:19, ” Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people. “
Background
Have you taken any time recently to look back over the years and see who you are? As much as we might hate to admit it, many of us have turned into our parents, with the same quirks, hang- ups, and sayings. We’re neat freaks, or pack rats, or chronic worriers, or slobs, or type-A controllers. We talk to our kids the same way we heard our parents speak to us, even repeating those phrases we vowed never to use. We think the younger generation could doom us all, and we don’t understand why they just won’t do what we see is right. We even look like our parents, walking like one of them, or making the same facial expressions as the other. And we’re always shocked, or even a little freaked out, when we hear or see ourselves do something that is just like our parents. It’s a weird experience to feel like yourself and your parent at the same time. But as these changes and effects happen to us over time, we also choose to be who we are. I’m not honest unless I choose to be when put in that difficult situation. I’m not reliable unless I choose to be when someone else needs me. I’m not hopeful unless I choose to be when things are tough. It’s who we choose to be that makes a difference.
Application
That’s why we have to voluntarily become a servant in order to really serve. And to reach the wide range of people that God wants to reach, we have to voluntarily become servants to any and all. If our parents stayed on one side of the tracks, then we’ve got to cross them. If we’ve gotten accustomed to a certain level of income, we’ve got to see that most others don’t have what we have. But it’s not going to matter to you if you don’t want to reach a wide range of people. If you’re comfortable the way things are, then you’re probably not serving any and all. If you’ve been a servant, then you know how far that might take you. And you know it’s not a part-time position.
Type-A people don’t fit in everywhere, nor do the touchy-feely. But a servant’s place is anywhere. When you choose that, there’s nothing you can’t do
Charge
As we seek Him today, look back at who you are and who you’ve become. who He wants you to be, and who He wants you to serve.
Rich Holt / Originally Published on : BCWorldview.org
Also published on : Medium.com.