December 29, 2014. 1 Timothy 1:12 Don't Overlook the Privilege

1 Timothy 1:12

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me faithful, appointing me to His service.

Have we forgotten the privilege?

We toil our days away.  Quickly, one day blends into the next.  Day after day....as if they were endless. 

We serve half-heartedly.  Initially with enthusiasm that quickly wanes to disgruntled obligation.  We put in our time. We serve in our slot counting down the minutes and seconds for the appointed time to end.  Hoping the sermon today isn't a long one.....and satan weaves lies that we have been taken advantage of yet again.

Or, maybe we hide in the sea of blurred faces and lives always waiting for someone to reach out to us, yet, always staying just beyond reach.  Trying not to get involved, yet, wanting to be involved.  And as we watch, we observe others being where we want to be, with friendships that we long to have and satan reminds us that we are not worthy...that we have been given a front row seat to observe only.

Have we forgotten?  Our strength, our favor comes from Him...and Him alone.  He has seen our faithfulness and has appointed us, yes us, to His service.  An appointment from the Most High....what an honor.  

An appointment that comes from He who is all-knowing.  He who sees the purpose of where He has placed us...even when we do not.  In a world that focuses on titles, accomplishments and notoriety, we have been placed in position by the One who sees what is most important....eternal value.

So that sobbing preschooler, that needy neighbor, that annoying person standing beside you (working with you, talking to you , living with you)....perhaps, you have been placed there for a reason....for a purposeful reason.  Instead of looking at each of our encounters with people as opportunities to enrich our lives, we need to look past ourselves and see what we can do to enrich theirs.  

How can we serve Him instead of waiting for ourselves to be served? 

It's not easy.  It is a completely different mindset than most of us have been taught, observed and lived...but it is a privilege not to be taken lightly nor exploited but rather cherished.