Tag Archives: Service

We go forward to serve others not to earn G*d’s love but because G*d loves us through Jesus

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on October 5, 2015
Tags: , Service   

Stuck in a Rut — Rev. David J. Schreffler

 

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October 5, 2015

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
1 Peter 2:9-10

“Most certainly, there are many of us who once were blind, but now have been given faith and are able to see. We who were once in darkness now live in the light of the Lord. We have been moved from darkness into light because God’s Son willingly became the heaven-designated Sacrifice who has rescued us. Now by the Holy Spirit’s action, saving faith has been placed into our hearts and everything ought to be seen in a different way. You know, things like a cold beer on a hot day; a baby’s laugh; buttered popcorn, and a comfortable fitting pair of jeans. Things like finding money in the pocket of your winter coat, and the elevator opening right after you push the button. Things like fresh sheets; a snowfall you don’t have to shovel; a dog who is glad to see you; a phone call from a long-lost friend; opening your hymnbook to the right hymn; hearing a compliment when the speaker didn’t know you were listening; the Milky Way on a crisp night; getting an A on a test when you thought you’d be lucky to get a C.

Live your life as a thanksgiving witness to those who are still in the dark, those who are still stumbling around without any hope. Let your face and bearing reflect the joy that is within you, the beauty which surrounds you, because of the extra gifts of God.” (“Into His Marvelous Light“, Daily Devotions Lutheran Hour Ministries, September 6, 2015)

Have you ever been stuck in a rut? Have you ever found yourself lost for what to do next? Sometimes the only way we can dig ourselves out of a hole of inaction, self pity and despair is to try to step out of the situation and see things in a different light. Often, when our friends come around to console us, this is one of the things they are trying to do — trying to help us get a different perspective.

It is easy to get stuck in a dark place — many people live their lives perpetually stuck in a place where they just can’t seem to remove themselves. It is then that we need to remember that Jesus has come to this place to bring us all out of the darkness and into the light of G*d’s love. Jesus said “I am the light of the world.” Remembering that Jesus is our light should help us to find a “different way” – a “new” way – like finding that twenty-dollar bill in your jacket pocket, or putting on that pair of jeans that fits just right. In those moments of discovery, we find our hearts lifted, even if just for a few moments, and helps us to see things differently.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on September 10, 2015
Tags: , Service   

Co-Workers — Rev. David J. Schreffler

 

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September 10, 2015

“Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we may become co-workers with the truth.” 3 John 1:8

“The apostle John, now an old man likely writing from Ephesus, wanted to encourage his friend Gaius to keep true faith in Christ burning brightly in his heart and the hearts of those in his church (3 John 1:1,4). So he penned a letter that referenced the great importance of two things—the teaching of the true gospel and the importance of fellowship. Without those things, Gaius’ church would be doomed to experience the cold ashes of dead faith.

John was pleased that his friend was “living according to the truth” (3 John 1:3). What’s more, Gaius and the fellow believers in his church had warmly received traveling teachers—likely John’s emissaries—who were instructing them in the truth. One man, Diotrephes, was not welcoming the traveling teachers because of his desire to be in control. John condemned the power-hungry, unrighteous leader and lifted up another, Demetrius, as an example of one who “does the truth itself” (3 John 1:12). “Our Daily Journey” devotions part of Our Daily Bread online devotions from Two Things We Need

Co-workers. We have them at our places of employment, and sometimes we are thrilled with the people we call “co-workers” . Other times we complain and complain about our “co-workers” because they do not fit our ideas of work, cooperation, or enthusiasm. But having co-workers does not stop at our places of employment. We also have “co-workers” in the church (our places of worship), and in the Church (meaning the Church Universal). Our “co-workers” in the gospel will be our friends at church, and also the ones we just cannot stand to be around. They will be the ones we share bible study and ministries with, and others will be the people with whom we sit on church council and find them to be exhausting to be around. And yet, we are “co-workers” in the gospel of Jesus, and these volunteers sometimes have more power than our co-employees in the day to day operations of the church.

When we are “co-workers” in the gospel of Jesus Christ, we need to work very hard at limiting our need for power and influence. The human quest and need for power and influence will always squelch the power of the gospel — if not immediately, it will over time. We damage and limit the work of the gospel when we place our own individual needs above the power of the Holy Spirit.

We are co-workers — not self-employed — but part of a team — ship-mates together fighting the storms of life — with Jesus as our captain.

Pastor Dave