I served at a church in Albuquerque along with a guy named Mike. I learned a lot from him in those few years. One of the things I admired most about him was his servant heart. I could ask him do do anything and he was all over it! What a heart and passion he had and still has for people. He was a natural fit to be our Connections Pastor…. leading all of the volunteer teams.
Mike also used to tell me to read the Bible until God speaks. It may be a verse or it could be a chapter or more. Sometimes when I sit down to read the Bible I will have a specific book in mind to read. At times I will read the same book for several weeks over and over. Right now I am reading mainly Philippians. Today while reading these verses stood out. Kind of keeping in line with a theme that goes with some other verses I posted the other day on love. These verses from The Message also go along with conversations I have had lately.
“If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care – them do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.” Philippians 2:1-4.