Re:Verse reading–2 Corinthians 8:1-15 (day two)
…and this, not as we had expected, but they gave themselves to the Lord, and to us by the will of God. Vs 5
It is 2:40 AM and I have just arrived home from the U.K. after traveling with the Sanctuary Choir for 12 days. Many of you know that prior to that the Chapel Singers toured the Mid-west. It has truly been a month of missions, not only for the music ministry, but for our whole church. My prayer before every service project or concert was that we exceed the expectations of those we were serving. The people we were serving surely had reasonable expectations of what a group of young people could do, or what a church choir sounded like. What was most important to us was that we were there as Christ’s Ambassadors, like our text last week reminded us. Our prayer was that they would see the truth and love of Jesus in the way we served and sang. That they would be drawn toward him by the sweet savor of service. Nothing we did or said was to our benefit or glory. It is my prayer now that we live each day striving to exceed the expectations of those we serve.
To God the glory! Welcome back to the US and to FBCSA. Great thoughts and principles in service. Great performance goal to live by each day as a Christ’s servant, “to exceed the expectations of those we serve.” Serving as embassador for Christ is a position of significance and dignity. Congrats to you and your team in your mission to bring glory to God.
Know that the impact of music for Christ and the joy and fulfillment you and your team receive from God is huge. God wants for all his believers to adhere to extraordinary performance in serving others. It is a good practice to appraise our own performance in serving others and in serving as embassadors for Christ at every opportunity. Knowing God’s performance standards, living and working by God’s standards for His believers will help us achieve extraordinary performance in whatever we do to serve Him and bring joy, happiness and peace to those we serve!
What are your thoughts on living and working by God’s standards for believers? What do you remember most? And what is more personal and executable for you?
“Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” Proverbs 11:25
Thanks again for bringing God’s blessings to others!
And may I please join with you in your prayer- that I also would strive to exceed the expectations of those I serve to the glory of His name.