So What Do You Do?

I was reminded this week of a sermon series that Elevation Church did in 2010 called "e." The "e" stood for "empowerment," and was basically a call to action to members of the church that they are to do the work of the ministry. The job of the pastor is to encourage and inspire. In other words, we all have a ministry.
I was reminded of that this week thanks to one phone call. Here's the backstory.
I consider January 14, 1995 my "spiritual birthday." It is a day that I distinctly remember. I do hold August 20, 1998 in higher regard, because on that day I rededicated my life to Christ after hearing some incredible preaching from a young preacher named Bobby Petree. But anyway...
There is a man in Lenoir named Bill Suddreth. For years he was a barber at Central Barber Shop downtown. He is probably one of the happiest people you will meet. He was always singing, smiling, just a happy individual.Over the years, he developed a ministry. He would call people on their spiritual birthdays, wish them a happy birthday, and offer them an encouraging word.
I forgot that he did that until this past Friday, when he called me.
From the hospital.
With a collapsed lung.
It was hard for him to talk, yet he did his best. It was probably the most encouraging phone call I have ever received. His word to me was great to hear, but his strength in calling me, when most people would otherwise not, was even more encouraging. That was the best thing about it. He reminded me that God can use anybody, at anytime. He only asks that they be willing to be used. Don't depend on the preachers to do the ministry- the Great Commission was for everyone.
So what do you do? Do you lead others by example? Or are you like a football game- on one day a week? Do you share others with what you say or by how you live? Or do people see that fish on the back of your car and denounce your God by your actions?
If you are a Christian, you are the minister of the gospel. It is up to you to live a life that shows you are not ashamed. Find a way to help others around you see Jesus. Live your life as an example to others to see. Chances are, others will want to experience some of what you have. You just need to find that way.
Bill Suddreth has, even with a collapsed lung.

First Things First

First off, I want to tell each one of you that read the last post: thank you. I have never had that many people read one of my posts, and I have never had that much response from it. It is great to have people that I believe I can call friends, and I thank each of you for the support you have given my family. I hope that what has happened to us in the past year will be used as a testimony to a God that is faithful, whose timing is impeccable, and rescues and saves.
OK- enough gushing. I hope you were able to get to church this weekend. Don't worry- I won't judge you if you didn't. That's not my job. We did, and we are so glad. Check out the lesson we learned yesterday:
"Don't put Jesus FIRST this year."
I am reading your mind. It is saying "WHAT? HERESY!! OF COURSE YOU PUT JESUS FIRST! THE BIBLE SAYS SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD! WHAT KIND OF FRUIT LOOP CHURCH ARE YOU ATTENDING?!?"
Please quit shouting mentally.
The teaching goes like this: If you try to make God your first priority this year, above your family, your job, and whatever else, you shove everyone and everything else to the backburner. This can mar relationships. Taken from Colossians 1: 15-18:
"Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,¹⁶ for through him God created everything  in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—  such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. ¹⁷ He existed before anything else,  and he holds all creation together.¹⁸ Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything."
Christ is ALREADY first. You cannot put Him first, because He is already there. The real idea is to put Him at the CENTER of all your other priorities.

• With your family, honor God by serving others, and by speaking life to your family or other relationships.
• With your career, honor God in your career, according to Col. 3:23. This is done by altering your perspective and your performance. Act like you're working for God, because really you are.
• Honor God in your circumstances. In Col. 1:17, it mentions that He came before anyone else, and holds everything together. The KJV says that "And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist." As it was put so well yesterday, "Our faith is not in our circumstances, but in our God...It is important to act out of what you know, not what you feel."

When we put God at the center of everything, He is glorified. His light shines in our lives, and through this, people will see that He is first. It isn't that controversial after all.