If I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. —Philippians 2:17
Are you willing to sacrifice yourself for the work of another believer—to pour out your life sacrificially for the ministry and faith of others? Or do you say, “I am not willing to be poured out right now, and I don’t want God to tell me how to serve Him. I want to choose the place of my own sacrifice. And I want to have certain people watching me and saying, ‘Well done.’ ”
It is one thing to follow God’s way of service if you are regarded as a hero, but quite another thing if the road marked out for you by God requires becoming a “doormat” under other people’s feet. God’s purpose may be to teach you to say, “I know how to be abased…” (Philippians 4:12). Are you ready to be sacrificed like that? Are you ready to be less than a mere drop in the bucket— to be so totally insignificant that no one remembers you even if they think of those you served? Are you willing to give and be poured out until you are used up and exhausted— not seeking to be ministered to, but to minister? Some saints cannot do menial work while maintaining a saintly attitude, because they feel such service is beneath their dignity.
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Journal DJR
Good Morning Lord, Being in the background, doing menial or un-noticed work only works for me when I’m connected with you. When I lose that clear connection, I tend to resent doing menial things. So I guess the key is to stay connected and be ready for anything you send. The large and the small, the strategic and the menial.
Connected with me is the best way to live. It’s the way I live … and the way I lived when I walked the shores of Galilee. I’m always connected with Father and Holy Spirit .. and as many of you as accept that invitation to our connection. As you stay connected with me, you can say with Paul. I can do all things, thru Christ, who strengthens me. Phil 4:13. When you lose connection, you lose the strength to withstand all pressures. That is when men have fallen back on their own strength and built structures to maintain their power. It’s an ugly thing. My people connected to me with my power (Me) flowing thru them … That is a beautiful thing. My essence is Love. Love manifests many ways but here are some clues:
4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. (1 Cor 13)
If those things are not flowing in your circumstances … check your connection. When something seems to be missing in your life … it’s me. Look how fast the Father was there for the prodigal son who realized that something was missing. We are here for you, just like that.
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