One verse devotional: John 13:8; Serving others is only one-half of the equation!

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In the summer of 2017, my youngest daughter Leah and I were able to participate in a short term missions trip to San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico. It's a city just across the national border from Yuma, Arizona. It's a desert, it's hot, and it was a completely new experience for Leah and me. We stayed at a combined church and school facility called Eli House, assisting the staff there with educational and recreational activities, facility improvement projects, etc. I am not a bi-lingual person-- and being immersed in a completely different culture was an extremely powerful experience for me.

Encouragement isn't just a one way street. It's not just all about me helping you. This is the concept that Jesus is communicating. Peter-- if you won't be vulnerable enough to let me do this-- you actually can't be in fellowship the way we should be... Much like a doctor or surgeon, who we must trust to perform the skilled cut, removal, and stitching required to remove a tumor or my appendix-- we must trust Jesus to serve us-- and there's something about this that is a key to us then living and serving him.

This absolutely applies to all our relationships. How are you allowing those around you-- family, friends, fellow church members, neighbors, coworkers-- to actually express their God-giving gifts and talents to serve you? Are you aware of the fact that Jesus, after taking on the position of the servant-- washing the feet of the disciples-- simply states, "now go and do this to each other-- Love the way I have loved you." You see, I have made a career and found an identity in serving others-- but I am not Christ... I'm a part of a body. I'm in need-- and God wants to use others to minister to me. If you and I want to really make a difference-- and I mean really make a difference for Jesus in our world-- in our time in this life-- we may have to stop, take a deep breath, and let someone else serve us, let someone know about our struggles and our pain, letting them "serve" us-- minister to us, Love us. Accepting God's grace and forgiveness, His love is one thing-- but it doesn't just stop there-- those closest to us will be used by God to continue his work of sanctification and growth in us.

Encouragement

Positive mental attitude

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