In Finding Common Ground by Tim Downs, Tim shares a story about reaching out to students. One day Tim and a friend go out on campus to share their faith and find "a solitary figure standing under a streetlight." He met their criteria: "He was alone, he seemed to have nothing to do, and he was smaller then we were." Tim introduced himself and then proceeded with "we'd like to share with you the contents of this little yellow booklet. Would that be OK with you? The student turned and began to walk slowly away, his eyes glued to the sidewalk. He said nothing in response to our question, so we assumed his consent so Tim began to read."
What ensued wan nothing less then an all out dash for the student back to his dorm room. Tim and his buddy in hot pursuit. Can you imagine seeing a person being chased down the street by two other people reading as frantically as they could? It all ended when the student reached his dorm and slammed the door on them. But this is not the end.
Tim and his friend then start to rationalize their behavior. "You know, the Bible says that God's Word never returns void. There's no telling what actually took place here. Who knows what that guy might be thinking right now? (I can only imagine?) We had sowed seed here tonight, we had stepped out in faith, we would leave the results to God, We had opened a conversation with this student, We did what we were supposed to do, What that guy does with the message is up to him."
"It was no small feat - we had found a way to make a plane crash look like a scheduled part of the air show. Most important, we had convinced ourselves that we had fulfilled our duty as faithful witnesses of our Savior." Tim ends with, "So why is it that, deep inside me, a voice seemed to say over and over, 'you have your reward in full?'"
Tim goes on to analyze his experience. "It takes no great insight to spot a dozen foolish blunders in my approach: the failure to ask his name; the failure to ask any questions about him at all; the failure to seek his express consent to listen to me; the failure to pick up subtle, telltale signals that might suggest his disinterest (like the fact that he was running away as fast as he could)."
Tim says this all stems from "one fundamental error: the student was only a 'target.' He was there to help me fulfill my obligation and return to my friends with a story to tell. He was there to serve my ends. I was communicating a message that could change his life, but it was all about me."
How easy it is to serve ourselves. Making ministry and life about us and serving our own ends. How easy it is to just do our obligated duty. How easy it is to forget.
We forget all His benefits. We forget He forgives all our iniquities. We forget He heals all our diseases. We forget He redeems our life from the pit. We forget He crowns us with steadfast love and mercy. We forget He satisfies with good. We forget it is all about Him.
Paul said in Acts 20:19 - 24, "You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, bound in spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God."
If you find yourself realizing (like I do everyday) that everything is about "me" then ask our Lord to help you to not consider you life of any account as dear to yourself, only that you may finish the course and the ministry which you have received from Him and to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.
Life is all about Him. Not out of duty but out of love. I hope and pray you are growing in your love for our Lord.
Because of His grace and for His glory,
Cory
But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God. -Acts 20:24
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