One of the highlights of living in East Africa is meeting men and women from around the world who come through the region to participate in short or long-term missions. Today, for example, while sitting in a Kampala, Uganda, coffee shop, I met a young married couple from Charleston, South Carolina. Amanda and Michael recently moved to Uganda to help their church build a medical center in one of the country’s most impoverished areas.
I enjoyed learning about the couple’s work and how the Lord had led them to leave home and serve in Africa. Our conversation reminded me that whether in our own neighborhood or abroad, it’s inspiring to hear about and spend time with people who have experienced God’s love and are in turn sharing it with others.
Such individuals strive to live out the essence of 1 John 3 by enthusiastically . . .
• Giving up their lives and comforts in behalf of their brothers and sisters around the world (1 John 3:16).
• Demonstrating God’s love by sharing their money and resources with the poor—showing compassion to brothers and sisters in need (1 John 3:17).
• Demonstrating love through their actions rather than merely professing love to others (1 John 3:18).
• Letting their behavior convey God’s truth (1 John 3:19).
In his bestselling book Today Matters, John C. Maxwell writes, “It’s a fact that you become more like the people you spend time with. If you desire to increase your faith, spend time with others who exercise theirs. Learn from them. Find out how they think.” And, I might add, how they act.
As God nudges you to engage in service to others, be intentional about building friendships with people who are already doing so and who can lead you by their example.
More:
We wanted to give you an example to follow (2 Thessalonians 3:9).
Next:
Schedule a meeting with someone who is actively serving others. What steps should you take to serve others in a similar way?
mprez2006 on January 10, 2011 at 8:19 am
amen…i prayed this morning that God would give me the means and opportunity to do missions in my lifetime. I also pray that God would lay such a spirit on more Black American churches. I don’t think we focus on missions as much, because things are so bad in our back yards, but at least one or two can be sent, i believe. But thank you for this post.
daisymarygoldr on January 10, 2011 at 2:51 pm
Those who sacrifice the comforts of home and familiar territory to go and serve others in unfamiliar foreign lands are the real heroes of faith.
Although not as a missionary, my brother spends his resources to reach out and meet the physical and spiritual needs of unreached villages in Africa. My sisters and their families are also using their professions to help the poor and needy. In addition to the missionaries in my family, I am blessed with friends who minister to international students here in this country.
Of course, all of us cannot go as missionaries to some faraway country but we are all called to serve one another in love. (Gal 5:13). If we save our lives for our own pleasure, then we will surely lose it all in the end.
The needs of people within our church communities are staggering. We can always find ways to help out by sharing our possessions with those who have lost their jobs, homes, health—to care for families affected by divorce and death.
To sacrifice (not spare) our time, talent and treasure in serving others is to invest in God’s eternal kingdom.
Thanks Roxanne for this timely post that exhorts us to serve God by serving others!
reeza40 on January 10, 2011 at 10:20 pm
Thank you for this post. My husband & I together with my two kids are here in Malaysia right now; and after 3 years of our ministry God had spoken to us to stepped down as pastors and give the leadership to others.
Leaving the congregation on March for another ministry set for us in Russia is not that easy but we’re just too thankful to God that He’s empowering & strengthening wherever he leads and that we may be able to show God’s love to people around the world through us. To God be the glory.