Waking-up to palm trees, singing birds and a bright sunny day is typical when one calls Florida home, you would think such wonderful surroundings make every day worries seem minuscule. You would be wrong!
Geography has little to do with the trust we put in God. The apostle Paul is a perfect example of this seeing how he wrote the book of Philippians from a jail cell. Bound and shackled, he remained true to his Faith in the Lord and did not let his surrounding break him instead, he lifted his arm to the sky and preached the word of God to those who would listen and even some who seemed hopeless.
Through torture, famine and despair, Paul continued to serve God.
We must do the same in this life so we can rejoice with Christ in the next. Serving God and spreading his word is the price we have to pay to get our ticket to Heaven. Most of us won’t have to do this from prison, rather we are asked to trust in the Lord in every day life, at work, school or even while driving your car!
Two simple things we can do that will make each day brighter: Trust in God and serve others!
Trusting in the Lord means no more worrying. If you trust God’s plan for your life, there is no need to worry. This is black and white and simple enough for everyone to understand and apply in their lives.
However, serving others can be a little tricky especially when facing delayed results. For example, opening a door for a stranger should produce immediate results in a simple “thank you” while giving to a charity anonymously can be more passive and generate little or no immediate response from anyone in particular.
In this example, what truly matters in that God took notice of both actions. Serving others is part of worship and should be targeted at God. Much like Paul, in serving those around us, we give them a chance at salvation.
Some of us are lucky to have had God in our lives from the day we were born while others were saved somewhere along the way. These people know what life was like before their relationship with Christ and this is at the root of this week’s message: Others deserve a chance to feel the same joy!
This is where you come in! Putting your trust in the Lord, helping those around you get rid of worry through the grace of Jesus Christ, through you. Saving others is not only your mission in this life, it is your responsibility! God wants us to use Him in saving others, to use our own experiences as examples. We have been given the gift of life and must continue to share the good news, that we are better because of God!
Share the wealth that is the word of God, cast worries aside and take charge of your own ministry by serving others and leading them to Christ. We all will be richer for it.
Let’s pray!
Father God;
We thank you for your love in our lives
For your guidance, your word, your holiness.
Lord we pray you will help us serve you
Through those around us,
And bless our lives as we continue to spread your joy
Knowing you will provide for us each day.
God we ask for your strength, for your wisdom,
So that we may serve you through others
Knowing you will take notice.
Father God we love you and thank you for listening,
For caring enough to send your only son Jesus
To die on the cross for our sins.
God we thank you for all that surrounds us!
Praise God,
Amen!
This message was written by Daniel St.Pierre
Email: DanielStPierre@ThriveThroughChrist.com
