FOR WHOM DO WE DO ALL THESE?

People always say, when you do something, do it whole heartedly… not only that, we should also learn to see that we are doing it for Him, and not just because we are forced to, or perhaps because we want others to commend us on our actions… do we, then, dare say that these are genuine acts of servanthood unto the Lord?

DUMC had this thing called Community Excel Services weekend yesterday. This is where they will promote the various ministries they have and what they do in each ministry bla bla… similarly so in Grace Assembly, it is all for the edification of the Body. It really touched my heart to know that all these are done because of the love each members involved have for the Lord. The level of commitment and sacrifice given, time spent, patience stretched… Imagine the amount of patience needed to guide a mentally challenged individual to be able to read, speak and even understand all that is happening around them. Imagine the risk that someone involved in the street ministry would have to encounter: for one instance, drug addicts. Yet the willingness to offer service and help is being portrayed so obviously. But then again, not all Christians have such calling from the Lord to be able to forsake self desires for the needs of others.

For whom do we do all these? Indeed, our community needs us. Why then do we still stay complacently in our seats and not wanting to enlarge our “tents”? The core message of the sermon yesterday was “The 7 Things That Will Begin To Take Place When God Dwells In Us.” Click here to view the first half of the FAITH newsletter for points of the message entitled THE CHURCH IN COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION – DREAMING WITH GOD. Let me be honest with you, none of the 7 points struck a chord in me. Instead, just one question the pastor threw at us: Are we willing to go all out and make that difference? To go places that no one wants to go, do things that no one likes to do, to touch lives that no one bothers to love.

My point is this: We have heard pastors sharing message after message about making that difference for the Lord, challenging us to go out and touch the world. where there is a need, meet it… where there is a hurting soul, love it… where there is a wounded heart, help heal it… but honestly, how often have we ACTUALLY DONE THAT? How often have we looked “away” from ourselves and “into” the lives of others? Those of whom are much less fortunate than us, have we been sowing into their lives? The Bible says in Luke 19:10 that “the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” If we love the Lord enough, shouldn’t we be following in His footsteps?

When we see a need meet it… and for this I am grateful to Alvin and Sharon from Father’s Garden, who gave me a lift home after the celebration ends (and Roland for the car, heehee), despite the fact that Alvin had to rush back to church for a play practice – and evangelistic rally which was to be held in early August.

For whom do we do all these? A question that only we can answer for ourselves…

Won’t You Lord take a look at our hands?
Everything we have use it for Your plans
Won’t You Lord take a look at our hearts?
Mould it, refine it, as You set us apart

* We want to run to the altar
And catch the fire
To stand in the gap
Between the living and the dead
Give us a heart of compassion
For a world without vision
We will make a difference
Bringing hope to our land

Bridge:
We will answer the call
To build this church without walls
Let Your glory be shown
Bring salvation to the lost
To the lost