Fearlessly Courageous
9 12 2024
Desk of Dennis Piller
What has become of serving in the Church today?
Is this too convicting a title to make you read further? I understand. What happened this week that reminded you of God? Or that made you realize God was there? Would you answer that for yourself? __________________
I asked a group I am a leader of if they felt more distant from God by not serving in church on Sunday. (All of my family is heavily engaged in one capacity or another. They all felt a little more disconnected. Some of us were involved with the men’s or women’s ministry and others with United and the 1 to 3 yrs olds. Each said that attending services along with their serving helped keep them connected and more in touch. However, each of them who had not been involved online with a small group felt a little disconnected and out of touch.
I think sometimes we get into good habits of doing for God. Our routine for worship is set up around being at church and doing our routine of serving. We do it weekly. Nothing to think about. Let’s Go! But I think this begs another question. What about, for a good reason, you are not able to attend church, and/or your routine has been disrupted? What happens to your private one-on-one time?
Your time for intimacy with the One and Only… True God Himself?
They admitted they had fallen a little cold.
Honesty, can being busy for God get in the way of intimacy with God?
So, Why Are We Here?
Colossians 1:15-16 “Christ is the image of the invisible God, The firstborn of creation. For… ALL things were created through Him and for Him. ”
ALL things were created through Him and for Him. That’s us!
WE exist for Christ. Not to supply His needs… Not to help Him keep things in order, but to show His power to His people, His creatures, WHY?… to Magnify Christ.
Philippians 4:11-13 Paul is saying,
“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me”. (That means I am connected personally with Christ outside of serving… He is my life-line). So that magnifying Christ and the satisfying of our souls take place in the best and worst of times. In vs 1:20 it says: he aims to magnify Christ in life and death and in the worst of times. Or put another way, whether I have a church routine or not… A serving position in Church or not. I need to be intentional about magnifying Christ in my life or in my death.
In Phil 4:12 He said, “I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need” What is it? He learned it… You must be content when all is NOT well. The secret of content is not in all the good things that are going well. Phil 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always,.. Always, again I say rejoice. That is contentment based on one thing alone.
Contentment based on Christ… That’s why we can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Paul learned this in his life, in his quiet time, in his intentional time of being with Christ himself.
We will surely feel the absence of God… when we are not spending enough time with God. Sometimes serving, helps me see God and feel God… Now without that routine… I have suffered some. I feel the loss of fellowship and that face-to-face connection with my comrades. I am missing my ministry… but like my family, it’s time for a reset. Asking God to use me in other ways… He WILL guide you if you want to be guided. But you must intentionally seek His face. Seek time with Christ alone.
That is the very heart of serving. Loving God First!
Lord…Help me to know beyond knowing that the Church is not the Church. I am the Church. We are the Church. Not a building or a service time but walking with Christ. Magnifying Christ in my life in and out of season. In good times or bad. Lord, I want to see you in my life every day. Help me be intentional about carving out time to be with My Lord.
Elevation Music. The blessing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ55mDL7dA0
