I’ve been reflecting a lot about Mary. A messenger from God named Gabriel came to her. “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” (Luke 1:28, ESV). He went on to tell her that she would miraculously give birth to the Messiah. Here is her response: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; … Continue reading I am only the workshop in which God operates
servanthood
A Christian one-liner that makes you think
Recently someone sent me an email with some “Christian one-liners” (Thanks Eileen!) Perhaps you’ve seen some of them. They usually highlight comical aspects of the faith or funny things that kids say. One of them in particular grabbed my attention. It was funny, but also provided a reason to pause and reflect on how we … Continue reading A Christian one-liner that makes you think
Well done, good and faithful servant
In Matthew 25 Jesus tells a parable about some people who were entrusted with some wealth by their master. Those who invested it well were greeted with a compliment: “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (verse 23). This statement is sometimes quoted at funerals. When someone has tried to live faithfully toward God and as … Continue reading Well done, good and faithful servant
Success is servanthood
“May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands” (Psalm 90:17). That was a prayer of Moses, the great man of God. But what did he mean when he asked God to “establish the work of our hands”? It’s … Continue reading Success is servanthood
Godishness
Jesus said: “So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty’” (Luke 17:10). Human beings are naturally selfish. It’s something we need to guard against. It’s also something we should be frequently asking God to forgive us for: “Dear … Continue reading Godishness
Use what you learn to serve God
We’ve been talking about learning from our mistakes and failures. In fact, when it comes to serving God, they don’t disqualify you, they educate you. Let’s consider the example of Peter. Before Jesus’ crucifixion, he denied knowing him three times. That is a very serious offense, especially in Jesus’ time of need! After the resurrection, … Continue reading Use what you learn to serve God
Ordinary missionary
As Christians we have a commission. It’s a word that means “with a mission.” Whenever we use language like this the first thing we often think about is the “great commission” in Matthew 28 to go and make disciples of all nations. But there is a lesser-known commission in John 20:21-22. Jesus said: “As the … Continue reading Ordinary missionary
Sacrifice that doesn’t make the news
When Fred Craddock was young he remembered listening to preachers and teachers talk about what it meant to be a Christian. He heard stories about Mother Teresa working with the poor in the slums of Calcutta. He heard about Albert Schweitzer as a medical missionary. He heard about the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. … Continue reading Sacrifice that doesn’t make the news
Striving to do good, or to look good?
One of Jesus’ most memorable actions was washing his disciples’ feet. The one who had walked on water and turned water into wine took the posture of a servant, even a slave. Foot washing was a job normally reserved for the lowly. But that’s what he did. Consider this context which helps us appreciate his … Continue reading Striving to do good, or to look good?
Re-dedicate it to Jesus
God needs to be first in our lives. Agreed. When we appreciate who God is and what he has done for us, we want to show that appreciation in meaningful and often sacrificial ways. When someone is a follower of Christ and realizes they’re not doing that, they tend to prayerfully think things through and … Continue reading Re-dedicate it to Jesus
