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There are many people in this world that are only interested in self gain
and self recognition. That is a shame because they are going to miss God's
best for their life. It is important that we remember that God's ways of
blessing are contrary to the world's ways. The Bible says to gain, we must
give; to be lifted up, we must be made low; to be the greatest, we must
first be the least. Having success God's way will last much longer in our
lives and more importantly our success will bring glory and honor to the
Lord for His blessings. (Matthew 19:28-30) (Mark 9:35) (2 Corinthians 9:6-8)
I hope this story ministers to your heart to be quick to give and serve
because in doing so you will receive much more than you had ever given before.
RESCUE AT SEA
Years ago, in a small fishing village in Holland, a young boy taught the
world about the rewards of unselfish service. Because the entire village
revolved around the fishing industry, a volunteer rescue team was needed
in cases of emergency. One night the winds raged, the clouds burst and a
gale force storm capsized a fishing boat at sea. Stranded and in trouble,
the crew sent out the S.O.S. The captain of the rescue rowboat team sounded
the alarm and the villagers assembled in the town square overlooking the bay.
While the team launched their rowboat and fought their way through the wild
waves, the villagers waited restlessly on the beach, holding lanterns to
light the way back. An hour later, the rescue boat reappeared through the
fog and the cheering villagers ran to greet them.
Falling exhausted on the sand, the volunteers reported that the rescue boat
could not hold any more passengers and they had to leave one man behind.
Even one more passenger would have surely capsized the rescue boat and all
would have been lost.
Frantically, the captain called for another volunteer team to go after the
lone survivor. Sixteen-year-old Hans stepped forward. His mother grabbed
his arm, pleading, "Please don't go. Your father died in a shipwreck 10
years ago and your older brother, Paul, has been lost at sea for three
weeks. Hans, you are all I have left."
Hans replied, "Mother, I have to go. What if everyone said, 'I can't go,
let someone else do it?' Mother, this time I have to do my duty. When the
call for service comes, we all need to take our turn and do our part." Hans
kissed his mother, joined the team and disappeared into the night.
Another hour passed, which seemed to Hans' mother like an eternity.
Finally, the rescue boat darted through the fog with Hans standing up in
the bow. Cupping his hands, the captain called, "Did you find the lost
man?" Barely able to contain himself, Hans excitedly yelled back, "Yes, we
found him. Tell my mother it's my older brother, Paul!"
Author Unknown
It is a great testimony to this world for each believer to have a servant's
heart. It is much easier to be served and many people prefer that over
serving others, but in God's point of view givers are the ones God
associates with best. Even when Jesus was on the Earth, the Bible says He
made Himself of no reputation and freely gave to all who came to Him in
need. When Jesus was with His disciples before His crucifixion, the Lord
washed the feet of each of His disciples to show them by His example how
they were to treat one another. (Philippians 2:5-9) (John 13:12-15)
I encourage you to have a servant's heart and show the love of God through
your life. Never allow the enemy to instill pride in your heart. The Bible
says that God resists the proud, but He gives grace to the humble. The
ones who are humble before the eyes of the Lord are the ones who God will
ultimately lift up and use for His purposes. Let us be the generation that
will have a humble heart so that God's favor will be upon us to change this
world to be a better place. (James 4:6) (Matthew 25:20-21) (James 4:10)
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
1 Peter 2:9-10 "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him
who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not
a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now
have obtained mercy."
Isaiah 6:8-10 "…I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send,
And who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me." And He said,
"Go, and tell this people: 'Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep
on seeing, but do not perceive.' "Make the heart of this people dull, And
their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And
hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be
healed."
2 Corinthians 4:7-10 "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that
the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard
pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in
despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed-
always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the
life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body."
Revelation 22:12-13 Jesus declares "…Behold, I am coming quickly, and My
reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the
Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last."
All scriptures can be found in the New King James Version Bible.
Today's Selected Poem: IT TOOK A MIRACLE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem47.htm
Today's Selected Testimony: JESUS STILL HEALS TODAY
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony35.htm
In Christ's Service,
Dwayne Savaya
Gods Work Ministry |
