“Really?!” I asked. “You work between 60 and 70 hours-a-week at the hospital…”
“And on your week off, you chose to care for high school girls, sleep in a bunk bed (if you get any sleep), eat camp food, play all the teambuilding games, etc., etc., and then go back home more tired than you when you work at the hospital!?”
“You just might be a little crazy,” I said with a smile.
“Yep, I might be,” she said. “But I love this camp, these kids, and what God has done here over the years, and in my life.”
This was a conversation I had last week with a college girl who is in the nursing program at Indiana Wesleyan University(IWU), who volunteered her time to make a difference in the lives of young people at a camp I was involved in.
I was amazed! It just made me tired thinking about her last week at the hospital, the drive from Marion, Indiana, and the week she would have ahead of her.
But that’s kind of the way servants of Christ are. They give their time, talents, insights, and even finances for a greater purpose, a greater cause… the transformation of young people as they give their lives to, and follow Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul talks about this kind of transformation in the lives of the servant, and in the lives of those who are being served in the Book of Romans…
“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God…”
(Romans 1:1 ESV)
Paul lays it out right there. He is a servant (the word is really slave) of Christ Jesus. He is a sent leader of the church. And His life is all about God’s Good News.
The core of his life is the Gospel. And the Gospel is the driving force of his life-calling… a servant of Jesus Christ. The young IWU nursing student was the same. She knows she is called to sacrifice and to joyfully serve… whether she is caring for people at the hospital, or caring for teenagers at a summer camp.
As you think about the opening story, and Paul’s words to the Romans, how do they speak to you? Here are a few thoughts and questions for folks like us to consider on our way to THE EXTRAORDINARY…
- Try this… “your name here, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God…”
- How does… that connect with the purpose of your life?
- How does… that verse/statement launch you into an even greater life of service?
- In what ways… have you given your life away in service like the IWU nursing student did?
- Even though.. you were worn out, tired, and had sacrificed time, energy, and finances, how did you feel?
- Many times… service in Christ can look a little crazy. But, for those who live this journey, it is worth it.
THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE is a life of Valiant and Courageous Service. Our lives may look ‘a little crazy’ at times… Yet, as servants of Jesus Christ, we give our time, talents, insights, and even finances for a greater purpose, a greater cause… the transformation of lives and our world.
One of the greatest things about GOD’S GREAT ADVENTURE for our lives is that we give, we sacrifice, we get worn out, and emptied… but we model the life of Jesus Christ, and we are filled and renewed with the joy of God.
So, as you consider a life of Valiant and Courageous Service, a great place to start can be the Steward’s Prayer…
God’s richest blessings to you today as you live towards
THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE God has for you!
With God,
And with each other,
We can!
Trash Cans and Grocery Carts – The Extraordinary Life
We want to help you win. We believe God came to show us a life model of love, mercy, grace and celebration. We want to help folks like us to live into the fullest power of freedom and life.
If you’d like to learn more about strategies to bring the Steward Leader message to your communities please reach out to us at info@stewardleader.org
Join us in expanding the message of Biblical Stewardship around the world!
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