What Are You Compelled To Do?

1 Corinthians 9:16-27

16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel. 19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law.22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

• What are you compelled to do? 
• What reward are you earning?
• Who are you a slave to?
• For what purpose have you been made a slave?
• What prize are you running after?
• What are you compelled to do for the sake of the Gospel?

The Unnoticed Servants

This is a great picture of the kids, taken yesterday as we finished up our "nature hike" at the forest preserve near our home.

It's difficult to get a good picture of our kids, this is because they are four and two and when one is in the mood for a picture, the other is not, when one decides to smile, the other decides to act like a fool, when one decides to look at the camera, the other seems to be in their own world. You get the picture, no pun intended.

But, this is a good, quality picture of the kids and I am proud to say that I am the one that captured them in this moment of good behavior, stillness, focus, and smiles.

But I can't take all of the credit.

You see, or rather, you don't see, my wife Kim is really the one that should get the credit for this wonderful picture of our kids. While I knelt down to snap this photo she was galloping around behind me pretending to ride a horse while making all of the actions and noises that go along with it. She is really the one that made this photo a success.

This week we are speaking on the topic of service, serving God, serving the church, serving the community, and serving the world. As I think about this picture and about service, it occurs to me that there are so many that work behind the scenes, making the events, programs, and ministries not only possible but making them a success. So many of these servants don't ever get the recognition or the credit that they deserve and so many never desire it. 

A special word of thanks to all that serve God on a regular basis. Perhaps you feel unappreciated from time to time, as though no one notices the work that you are doing, the time and energy that you are spending to make so many things flow seamlessly. Let me just say that, although you may not be noticed, although you may not be given the recognition or the credit that you deserve, your work is being noticed, your labor is not in vain, and someday real soon you will be given the appropriate reward for all of your service to The Lord.