“A country western song is in my head, don’t distract me.” Someone said this as I tried to engage in a conversation while sitting in a whirlpool. The Christmas season brings many distractions—e.g. endless shopping for the best gift, holiday activities, and complicated family dynamics. Are we too distracted to serve sacrificially for God’s kingdom purposes?
The world's way is to out-work, compete, cut corners and evaluate options to find the highest financial yield. Instead of hard work that’s only focused on temporal outcomes, God's way is to show concern for others’ spiritual lives, obey God without evidence, thank God when He shows mercy, and depend on indwelling Holy Spirit so we are equipped to serve sacrificially for God’s kingdom purposes.
1. Show concern for others’ spiritual lives
Better for a millstone be hung around his neck and thrown into the sea than be a stumbling block to one of these little ones. If your brother sins, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him. If your brother sins against you seven times a day and repents, forgive him (Luke 17:1-4). Show concern for others’ spiritual lives when you rebuke, forgive, and don’t judge.
2. Obey God without evidence
Having faith like a mustard seed cause a mulberry tree to obey if you said, 'Be uprooted and be planted in the sea.' A slave does what’s commanded even though he's not thanked by his master (Luke 17:5-10). Obey God without evidence.
3. Thank God when He shows mercy
Ten leprous men asked for mercy from Jesus as he passed between Samaria and Galilee. He told them to show themselves to the priests to be cleansed. Only one, a Samaritan, thanked Jesus. He told the foreigner that his faith healed him as he gave glory to God (Luke 17:11-19). Thank God when He shows mercy.
4. Depend on the indwelling Holy Spirit
Jesus told the Pharisees that the kingdom of God is not coming with observable signs but is within you (Luke 17:20-21). Depend on indwelling Holy Spirit without signs.
5. Serve sacrificially for God’s kingdom purposes
During the last days, people will be eating, drinking and getting married like during the days of Noah and Lot. The Son of Man will suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. When Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be the same when the Son of Man is revealed. Remember Lot's wife. Whoever keeps his life will lose it and whoever loses his life shall preserve it. There will be two men in one bed, one will be taken and other left. Where the body is, the vultures will be gathered (Luke 17:22-37). Serve sacrificially for God’s kingdom purposes.
Action Steps:
I will rate myself on a scale of 1 to 5 on the following ingredients that allow me to serve sacrificially for God’s kingdom purposes (1 being lowest and 5 highest):
The world's way is to out-work, compete, cut corners and evaluate options to find the highest financial yield. Instead of hard work that’s only focused on temporal outcomes, God's way is to show concern for others’ spiritual lives, obey God without evidence, thank God when He shows mercy, and depend on indwelling Holy Spirit so we are equipped to serve sacrificially for God’s kingdom purposes.
1. Show concern for others’ spiritual lives
Better for a millstone be hung around his neck and thrown into the sea than be a stumbling block to one of these little ones. If your brother sins, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him. If your brother sins against you seven times a day and repents, forgive him (Luke 17:1-4). Show concern for others’ spiritual lives when you rebuke, forgive, and don’t judge.
2. Obey God without evidence
Having faith like a mustard seed cause a mulberry tree to obey if you said, 'Be uprooted and be planted in the sea.' A slave does what’s commanded even though he's not thanked by his master (Luke 17:5-10). Obey God without evidence.
3. Thank God when He shows mercy
Ten leprous men asked for mercy from Jesus as he passed between Samaria and Galilee. He told them to show themselves to the priests to be cleansed. Only one, a Samaritan, thanked Jesus. He told the foreigner that his faith healed him as he gave glory to God (Luke 17:11-19). Thank God when He shows mercy.
4. Depend on the indwelling Holy Spirit
Jesus told the Pharisees that the kingdom of God is not coming with observable signs but is within you (Luke 17:20-21). Depend on indwelling Holy Spirit without signs.
5. Serve sacrificially for God’s kingdom purposes
During the last days, people will be eating, drinking and getting married like during the days of Noah and Lot. The Son of Man will suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. When Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be the same when the Son of Man is revealed. Remember Lot's wife. Whoever keeps his life will lose it and whoever loses his life shall preserve it. There will be two men in one bed, one will be taken and other left. Where the body is, the vultures will be gathered (Luke 17:22-37). Serve sacrificially for God’s kingdom purposes.
Action Steps:
I will rate myself on a scale of 1 to 5 on the following ingredients that allow me to serve sacrificially for God’s kingdom purposes (1 being lowest and 5 highest):
- Show concern for others' spiritual lives
- Obey God without evidence
- Thank God when He shows mercy
- Depend on indwelling Holy Spirit
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