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From
the February, 2005 edition of The Chapel newsletter
by
Jeff Walker
"Give It Away"
President George W. Bush was inaugurated this past week for his second term as the highest ranking public servant in the United States. Being a man of faith, President Bush delivered a speech that was woven with Christian values:
“From the day of our Founding, we have proclaimed that every man and woman on this earth has rights, and dignity, and matchless value, because they bear the image of the Maker of Heaven and earth.” He also spoke of duty and responsibility:
“In America's ideal of freedom, the exercise of rights is ennobled by service, and mercy, and a heart for the weak. Liberty for all does not mean independence from one another. Our nation relies on men and women who look after a neighbor and surround the lost with love. Americans, at our best, value the life we see in one another…”
There are so many ways to love: prayers, actions, words, counsel, and teaching. Love is not as much an emotion as it is an action. Maybe you’ve heard this poem before: The love in our hearts wasn't put there to stay, for love isn't love until you give it away.
R. G. LeTourneau was a not-so-famous inventor, builder, engineer and designer of excavating equipment, and a business owner. LeTourneau held more than 40 jobs before he was 28 years old. At the age of 30, he began to experience success in the workplace, but he was still unfulfilled. His pastor then spoke the words that guided the rest of his life:
“God needs businessmen as well as preachers and
missionaries.” It was then he realized “a layman [can] serve the Lord as well as a preacher.”
For many years R. G. LeTourneau lived on 10 percent of his income, giving the other 90 percent to various Christian endeavors. Later in life he traveled the country delivering lectures to Christian organizations and business groups where he spoke his most-repeated statement:
“If you’re not serving the Lord, it proves you don’t love Him; if you don’t love Him, it proves you don’t know Him. Because to know Him is to love Him, and to love Him is to serve Him.”
It’s been said that some people use the excuse that they are not ready to be used by God. The rebuttal is, if they are waiting until they’re ready, they’ll never serve; they’ll never be ready.
We all have jam-packed schedules of things to do and places to be. The question that needs to be asked is: “Who wrote it in the planner? God or myself?”
President Bush reminded us this week that history runs not
“on the wheels of inevitability; it is human choices that move events. Not because we consider ourselves a chosen nation; God moves and chooses as He wills.”
God had given Israel the land of Canaan, but they had to work for it. And they were instructed to do a thorough job.
[Numbers
33:52-53]
Think about it, we ALL have been called by God to eternally be part of His family. As with any family, let’s decide to love one another and our neighbors and friends. Please prayerfully reflect on where, within the church body, you can be used. Having trouble figuring it out? Try a few different areas. I’m sure your help will be welcomed. Let’s decide to love the lost and do our part to give them a chance to become part of the family. Let’s start an adoption campaign! Serve them; love them; tell them; bring them.
“Renewed in our strength - tested, but not weary - we are ready for the greatest
achievements in history." – George W. Bush, President of the United States of America
In the service of Christ our Lord,
Jeff Walker
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