Serving God – Serving Others

Luke 10:2

He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Today I want to take a look at serving God and serving others. In the life of most churches – there is a sad statement that is common knowledge in the church world! It goes like this – 20% of the people do 80% of the work in the church. At times – this might be because the 20% has a hard time sharing or delegating the workload. At times – it might be a control issue on the part of the 20%. But most often – it is because the 80% aren’t joining in the labors for Christ in the church. Are we part of the 20% or the 80%?

Think about this for a moment. Are we only attending worship in our church and doing nothing else (online or in person)? Are we only taking what the church offers – youth ministry – children’s ministry – family ministry – worship – Bible studies – etc. – and not giving anything back? In essence – are we a taker without being a giver? Do we take more than we give?

There is another saying we might be familiar with – it goes like this – you get out of something – what you put into it. I wonder what our church would look like if everyone associated with our church were to serve God in some capacity in the life of our church? What if everyone in our church considered themselves workers in the harvest fields Christ has for us? I mean – we can all help somewhere! Right?

Here are some ideas and suggestions. What if everyone who came to worship at a particular church personally invited others – often – even weekly – to attend with them? What if those who used a particular ministry – children – youth – Bible studies – Small Groups – worship – counseling services – etc. – offered to help in another area of the church’s ministry? The 20% would be excited – even tickled – that others were entering the harvest field with them!

Did we know that most all of the ministries in our church could use more help? What would it look like if 80% of the people were involved in the ministry of the church? What if we all helped in some capacity – making the load lighter for others and enabling us to do more for Jesus? Although 20% of the people do 80% of the work – they cannot do that 80% well – because they are so stretched. I would imagine – if 80% were involved in doing the labor of the Lord at our church – the amount of work and the quality of the work would increase and improve. It just makes sense! Right?

So – where are we helping our church? Do we feel like we just don’t have the time to help? Do we feel we just don’t have the abilities to help? If these fit us – what about being a generous giver so that we might hire others to do what we feel we don’t have the time or abilities to do?

Did you know that a tithe of a $40,000 annual family income is $4,000 or about $77 a week in offering? Of course – a tithe on a family income of $80,000 would be $8,000 or about $154 a week in offering. You can easily figure out your tithe. Just saying. (By the way – we are all called to tithe and even sacrificially offer to God and we are all called to serve in some capacity.)

Luke 10:2 – He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Today – I ask the Lord to increase the workers at our church – to enable us to harvest the fields around our church for Jesus! Will others step up and say Lord – here am I – use me? We are in the first month of a new year. Where is God calling us to serve? We are called to go out into the mission or harvest fields – around us – to send out people to serve Christ. This is not always outside the church – but often inside as well. What gifts has God given us to be used to His glory? If you would like to serve but can’t find a place – contact me please. We can find a place for you to work in the harvest fields for sure! Serving Jesus is what we are all called to do!

What about helping us start the contemporary worship service? We need musicians – singers – ushers – sound and computer techs – greeters – prayer warriors and more. How can you serve Jesus and our church as we begin this new ministry?

Just something for us to think about today as we go on our way.

 

• Ray MacDonald Comment at: https://raymcdonald.wordpress.com/

Remain in Me

John 15:4

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

I have tried – without success – taking cuttings from certain trees or plants and transplanting them. I know that some have the knowledge to do this – but I have almost always failed. It takes the right cut – the right care – the right mixture of water – minerals and sunshine – to work. I just can’t seem to get it right.

When I try to transplant something – and fail – I am reminded of this passage from John – as he quotes Jesus.  Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

As Christians – we cannot be cut from Christ and expect to produce fruit. Time and time again I have spoken with people who have gone through rough tracks of life – and often – during the toughest times – they seem to pull away from the fellowship of other believers – and their faith. Whether it is through guilt – self-centeredness – business – or for other reasons – most tell me that they knew they needed to be in worship – in the fellowship of other Christians – but for one reason or the other they pulled away. They say things like coming to worship always makes me feel better and stronger – I have no idea why I let myself pull away when I needed God most.

Have you ever gone through this experience? Have you ever been in a place in your life where you felt a part from God – separated from Him? I pray that we realize that not only when times are tough – but all times – we need to be planted in – connected to – attached to the root of Christ Jesus our Lord – in order to have peace – in order to have joy – in order to produce good fruit for God. Fellowship with the Body of Christ – attending to the worship of God – being in His presence through our devotional time and other times – are all times of being in connection with God. These times are required to produce fruit pleasing to God.

Read with me this passage from Hebrews 10:23–25 – ²³ Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

We need to constantly strive to be in the presence of God. We need to strive to walk with Jesus – every moment of every day – not just on Sunday mornings. Being sold out for Christ is real and where we should live. Most of us are sold out for something. My friend Bob is sold out on his Yankees. Another friend Mike is sold out on his Steelers. Some of us are sold out for our children or someone or something else in life. Matthew 16:24 – Then Jesus said to his disciples, Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

We know that Christ wants our whole heart. He wants all of us. He wants our love and devotion. Mark 12:28–30 – ²⁸ One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” ²⁹ “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. ³⁰ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 

Love God with our all. Keep planted and rooted in Him and we will produce good fruit.

 

Comment at Ray’s blog: https://raymcdonald.wordpress.com/2022/11/01/remain-in-me/

Clothing Ourselves!

Colossians 3:12

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Dear readers – did any of us have a favorite piece of clothing growing up? I apparently – according to old photos – had a favorite cowboy shirt and a red baseball hat. In many of my childhood pictures – from a certain age – that was what I had on. I still have favorite clothes – enjoying the more casual look over anything dressy. When I was in my early teen years – I had a favorite hat that was always on my head – it seems. I remember when I finally had to give it up – it was old – torn and smelled from years of sweating in it. I remember buying it with my own money at Ocean City one year. I know my girlfriends probably didn’t like it much – but it was a favorite!

As a pastor – I know there are proper times to wear certain clothes. For instance – I when I have a funeral – I will bring my collar and my suit jacket to work with me – so I can change before the service. I will return to the office for meetings after the funeral and put on my church shirt – typically a polo shirt with my name and the church’s name on it. I hardly ever wear a tie anymore – using the clergy collar shirt when I need to dress up.

Teams have uniforms. During player’s weekend one year – the Orioles wore bright orange and white uniforms – their hats looked like hunting hats. Since I mentioned the Orioles – have you noticed that they may finish 30 games better than last year and have an outside chance of making the playoffs? Football season is upon us. I like the Ravens all black uniforms – they are fierce looking. I remember the pride of wearing the basketball and football uniforms for my High School – Annapolis High – even if I didn’t play that much!

Today’s passage instructs us to clothe ourselves in Christ! Here’s the passage in partial context.

Colossians 3:1–17 – ¹ Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ²Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. ⁵Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. ⁷You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. ⁸But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. ⁹Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. ¹¹Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. ¹²Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. ¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Like sport’s teams wear uniforms of the same color so they know the difference between their players and the other team – so the children of God need to clothe themselves in Christ and not in the sins of the world. Like I mentioned in a message a few years ago – we are to put Christ First – and look more like Him each day. We are to be known by our love – but that love is to be expressed in obedience to Christ. The clothing of sin is the uniform of the other team – Satan’s team. We are to be dead to sin and alive in Christ. We are to be clothed in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. We are to be clothed in Christ – not the world of sin – not Satan’s team. Let us clothe ourselves – each day – in the clothing of children of God!

Just something for us to think about today as we go on our way.

Comment at Ray’s blog: https://raymcdonald.wordpress.com/2022/09/29/clothing-ourselves/

Devoting Ourselves to God’s Word

Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

As we head to the fall season – I think this is a powerful reminder of what the first believers did. The first century church devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

We are called to devote ourselves to the Bible – that is the Word of God – which contains the teachings on the Apostles – the Epistles or most of the books in the New Testament. Do we study the Bible on a regular basis? If we don’t have the time at home in the morning – may I suggest a few options.

On our computer at work or at home – let’s look up BibleGateway – here is a link to their site – http://www.biblegateway.com/. They have a reading plan that will help keep us on track and get us through the Psalms – the whole Bible – the Gospels – etc. If we are on the move a lot and not at our desk much – if we have a smart phone we can look up BibleGateway on our phone’s browser or we could add the Bible to our phone with a program like YouVersion – here is their link – http://www.youversion.com/.  My iPhone has an app for this program and it allows me to post Scriptures to my Twitter and Facebook account. We can also use YouVersion on our desktop computer from our browser. It is a great program that I highly recommend. Both of these programs have a wide variety of translations to help us find our favorite and to compare passages.

If we are not that technical – we can carry a Bible with us in the car or put one on our desk. There are moments during most of our days when we take a breather. Use that time to read the Bible. If we take ½ hour or hour for lunch – most of us don’t need to eat that long – lol – so get the Bible out and read some. A chapter a day is better than none a day!

What is your favorite translation? I have several favorites. From my childhood – RSV (Revised Standard Version). From my teen years Good News. From my early years of ministry – The Jerusalem Bible. From later in ministry NIV 84 (New International Version 84). I also like the Message and the ESV (English Standard Version). I also use the KJV (King James Version) from time to time. I like to compare versions when I research passages. It helps me understand the passage better.

Just something for us to think about today as we go on our way.

Comment at Ray MacDonald’s blog: https://raymcdonald.wordpress.com/2022/08/18/devoting-ourselves-to-gods-word/

We Are Ambassadors for Christ

John 14:9Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.

Ambassadors have a tough job. They must represent someone else. Ambassadors are called to represent someone or some idea. The job might be easier if you agree with the one you represent or the idea you represent – but – it is still a tough position. Can you think of any position you have held or hold where you represent someone else?

Ambassadors have a tough job. They must represent someone else. In most cases – employees are ambassadors or representatives for their employers. When I worked for McDonald’s – I was asked to dress and behave a certain way while on the job. While on the job – I had to follow the prescribed behavior and dress as directed by the ones I represented – McDonald’s. Away from work – I had more freedom to be myself – but while I represented McDonald’s – I needed to follow their rules.

Ambassadors have a tough job. They must represent someone else. A current battle going on right now is between Republicans and Democrats. One party has control of the both sides of Congress and the White House at this particular time. It happens. We’ll live through it. We have in the past. Some however – on both sides of the political spectrum – revel in putting the other side down whenever possible.

Ambassadors have a tough job. They must represent someone else. People like Nikki Haley – The former US Ambassador to the United Nations – and Sarah Huckabee Sanders – the former White House Press Secretary – represented their boss – the former POTUS. They may not have always agreed with him – but while in his employment – they were asked to follow his directives. Ambassadors are hired – in most cases – to represent their employers.

Read the rest: https://raymcdonald.wordpress.com/2022/06/14/we-are-ambassadors-for-christ/

God Has Prepared a Place for Us

John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

This is part of a passage that often gets read at funerals. It is a passage of hope and blessing. We believe that Jesus was crucified – died – and was buried. He rose again – on that Easter morning – long ago. He ascended to heaven and sits at the righthand of the Father. From this place – we believe that He will judge the living and the dead. He has also gone – according to His own words – to prepare a place for us.

In today’s passage – John records these words of Jesus. John 14:3 – And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. We believe that Jesus has gone before us – to the grave and He has risen from the grave – the first fruits of those who will follow Him. He has gone before us and we believe that – with faith – we will follow Him. We will follow Him to the grave and we will rise again – with Him. He has gone before us to prepare a place for us.

Here’s today’s passage in partial context. John 14:1–7 – ¹ “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. ² My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. ⁴ You know the way to the place where I am going.”⁵ Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” ⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

 

Read more at: https://raymcdonald.wordpress.com/2022/03/24/god-has-prepared-a-place-for-us/

Loving God

Luke 14:26

If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. NLT

This is a hard passage to understand. In the NIV it reads this way: Luke 14:26 – If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. Either reading is tough.

I have a wife and three daughters and I never imagined I could love anyone more than these four – that was until my seven grandchildren came along. I have a game I play with one granddaughter. I tell her I love her. She tells me she loves me. I say I love her more. She says she loves me 100 times more. I say I love her 1000 times more. And we keep going until she says something like – I love you infinity times more and I say – you win. We hug and laugh.

We’re a tight family – and we miss our parents greatly (yesterday was the six anniversary of my wife’s father’s passing). Family is very important to us. Yet here is the Bible – even the words of Jesus Himself – telling us that our love for family needs to be so much less than our love for Him – that it is almost like we hate them in comparison.

Maybe this is what the church is missing these days. The church seems to put self and even family above Christ at times. If the family has something to do – ball games – picnics – late Saturday nights – etc. – at times we will put our public worship of God on the back burner. I mean – I’m not even dealing with where we put our daily devotions and our prayer life when it comes to sporting events – the news – our favorite TV shows – etc.

In the coming weeks we should all examine the In Between stuff in our lives. The things that come in between us and where we know we should be in our walk with Jesus. For instance – we know – according to the Bible – we should have a stellar prayer life with Jesus – yet we also know that our prayer life falls short of that goal (whatever that might look like). What is it that keeps us from spending more time in prayer with Jesus? What have we elevated above our prayer life?

Another example – which I eluded to in an earlier devotion – we know the Bible calls us to not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing. We also know that Jesus set the example of being regular in the public worship of God. Yet – some of us are not regular in our attendance in worship (and I’m not counting the pandemic misses). This Sunday – as we continue to come out of this season of pandemic – will we plan to attend worship – in-person? Easter is on the horizon – will we plan to be ever present as we walk through Lent – starting in March? We should be packed like Easter every week – because we are all called to meet together. So what is it that comes In Between where we know we should be and where we actually find ourselves?

Read more: https://raymcdonald.wordpress.com/2022/02/03/loving-god-2/

We All Need Consistency

by raymcdonald

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Consistency is something most of us look for in our lives. We want to hit the target again and again – being on target in our relationships for instance. In talking with young couples over the years and playing the I Expect Game with […]

Read more of this post

Define Faithfulness

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

What do you think of when you hear the word faithfulness? I first think of the vows we share at our marriages – to be faithful until death do us part. Throughout the Hebrew and Christian portions of the Bible – the relationship between God and His people – between Jesus and the church – is compared to that of a bride and groom. I like the love and passion shown by God for the church. Here is a passage from the Hebrew Bible.

Read more: https://raymcdonald.wordpress.com/2022/01/06/define-faithfulness/

Faith Is More Than A Wish

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Have you ever wished for something? Maybe a new red bike for Christmas. Maybe a new Barbie doll. Maybe a G.I. Joe action figure. How about a Mattel Thingmaker or Creepy Crawlers set (pretty dangerous toys for children in the 60’s). Another dangerous toy – Lawn Jarts. When we made our wish list for Christmas – we might not have thought we would get everything on our list – but it was nice to put a few things on the list for sure.

Have you ever wished for something? Maybe to play major league baseball or NFL football or NBA basketball. Maybe to dance on Broadway or to sing at the Grand Ole Opry. Maybe to act on TV or the stage. Maybe to have children or have a career or both.

Have you ever wished for something? Like to meet your forever love. Like to have children. Like to live long enough to see your grandchildren have children. Maybe wishing to live long enough to see a child graduate college or to marry.

Have you ever wished for something? Wishing for something is common. We wish for things we hope to receive. We wish for things we hope will happen. Often the things we wish for do not happen. At times – we wish way overboard – beyond our ability or the ability of others to make our wish come true.

Have you ever wished for something? The Make-a-Wish Foundation is a group of people that want to make a last wish come true for children with terminal illnesses. Often these are grand wishes – beyond the family’s ability to provide. They do amazing work.

Faith is not wishing. Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Faith in God is not a wish. We can have confidence when we have faith in God. I’ve gone under a few times for surgery and probably will a few times in the future. I have had full confidence that I will either be with Jesus or back with my family each time.

My faith is not a wish. My faith is based on Jesus – who is the same every day – Hebrews 13:8 – Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. That is where I place my faith – not a wish at all.

Continue: https://raymcdonald.wordpress.com/2021/11/23/faith-is-more-than-a-wish/