“you know it sounds a little off to say ‘fasting isn’t just a discipline, it’s a lifestyle.’
It also sounds a little off to say ‘study isn’t just a discipline, it’s a lifestyle;’ however,
it sounds spot on to say, ‘submission isn’t just a discipline, it’s a lifestyle.’”
Today, I would like to add to that comment “it sounds spot on to say, ‘service isn’t just a discipline, it’s a lifestyle.’”
The suggestions for service at the end of the chapter remind me of Ultra Packet Staff Culture, Ultra Packet Situational Leadership, Group Development, Ultra Packet Special Topics, and many, many training weekend topics, focus points, and examples. Here are the highlights of what I would call “To live is Christ and to die is . . .
1. Having people walk over me.
2. Surrendering our rights.
3. Being taken advantage of.
4. Invisibility.
5. Discipline with small things, insignificant tasks.
6. Silent serving.
7. Loyalty to others.
8. Vulnerability.
9. Kindness in all things.
10. Asking questions and listening.
11. Compassion.
12. Serving the last and the least.
13. Aspiring to slavery.
2. Surrendering our rights.
3. Being taken advantage of.
4. Invisibility.
5. Discipline with small things, insignificant tasks.
6. Silent serving.
7. Loyalty to others.
8. Vulnerability.
9. Kindness in all things.
10. Asking questions and listening.
11. Compassion.
12. Serving the last and the least.
13. Aspiring to slavery.
I feel reminded by the chapter of this truth – Only one substance can change any heart. Only one. And that substance is the mercy-filled blood of Christ poured out through His body. And when I think of His body, I say to myself, “hey, that’s me.” And then I say, "wait a minute that’s you too.” And then I think “well, gee at this point in time, within the organization of Sonshine. That’s us together.”
After I have that conversation with myself, I hear us singing that song “Jesus lead on and I will follow” but we’ve changed the lyrics to – “Jesus BLEED on and I will follow. Jesus BLEED on let you LOVE LIGHT the WAY.”
Jesus, please allow your blood to infuse this body with light, love, and compassion. Grow your seed of faith in me such that I trust you to let your blood define, enlighten, and fill my heart and mind. May the activity of my life be the activity of Your Life because your kingdom has displaced the shadows of self-possession and pride in my old heart with service and humility. May the fruit of this new heart in you be blood spilled from your free will which
burns freely in me and
gives freely from me
in spite of me.
2 Corinthians 6:4-10
ReplyDelete"Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything"