Who am I serving?
Every once in a while, I wish I had walked the earth when Jesus did, the absence of electricity and indoor plumbing notwithstanding. I just think serving Jesus might be easier if I was physically looking at Him. It can be hard for me to picture Jesus when the person standing before me who needs my help is... just... (how shall I say this?) not him.
The righteous will answer him, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?"
The King will reply, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." -Matthew 25:37-40
Blake laid out three questions for us on Friday as a framework for where we will go in the coming months as we consider what it means to convoy: Who am I serving? What is my purpose? How do I fulfill my purpose? We spent some time on the first question. The "right" answer is obviously, "I'm serving God!" But as Blake said, the proof is in the pudding. Which of these "pudding pops" challenged you the most?
What are my daily priorities?
What consumes my time?
What drives my anxiety and stress?
Do I see people as issues or opportunities?
How do I define success?
For me, it was the one about how I see people. Last week I mentioned an unexpected house guest staying at my place. My daughter (bless her heart) asked my wife if we could let a friend of hers (who had lost her lease and was living out of her car) stay at our place for a few days while she figured out where she was going to go next. Within two days, the young lady wrecked her car/home, totaling it. So now she is at our place, without transportation, except when she borrows my wife's car in the evenings to get to her job and do her running around. And just when I was starting to get spoiled to this whole "empty nest" thing!
She's very nice and courteous, clean, a believer - no trouble, really. But like my own kids, her "stuff" seems to spread out to fill whatever space she occupies. Plus there's just some general awkwardness of sharing space with someone you don't know very well. She is working on other arrangements, but these things take time, or so I am told. After overhearing a conversation between her and my wife a couple days ago, I asked my wife (privately), "So, it sounds like we're going to be loving this girl like Jesus does for a couple more weeks?" Just, you know, trying to get a feel for where we are.
All of which reminds me that these things are easier to talk about in theory than they are to live out practically. Lord, give me your eyes to see souls.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. -Matthew 5:7