If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. - Phillipians 2:1-5
“Now that my term is up on Church Council, how can I serve at church?â€
This was the question posed by our 24 year old special needs son. The Lord is praised through such an attitude! As an usher, this young man not only faithfully performed his church duties out of love for Jesus, but also led his fellow deacons to be more faithful in attending the Lord’s Supper. He never missed an opportunity to take Holy Communion, and the other ushers began joining him until each Communion Sunday all 4 were standing at the altar at the last table. I praise the Lord for motivating our son to quietly lead by example.
How are we as pastors’ wives doing with our quiet leading? How am I doing? Am I participating in Bible class? Am I involved in the women’s group, even taking a turn as an officer? Am I inviting my neighbor to church, sharing Christian material, ready to encourage with tenderness and compassion, offering comfort from his love when a need arises? Am I building up my husband, giving him a haven within our home? Am I defending him, leading others to put the best construction on his words and actions? Am I serving as a VBS teacher, Sunday school teacher, or in some way as a volunteer to serve my Lord and his congregation? Do I encourage others to serve with me?
Ah, I see many places where I could do much better with leading quietly in the work of my Lord. The area I see that needs my greatest attention is the attitude of my heart. My heart often embraces such feelings as, “Okay, I’ll do it since no one else seems to see the need to volunteer.†Frequently I do these tasks with an unhappy heart. My mom’s words echo in my memory, “You will do this, but without a happy heart for Jesus, it is not a good work.†At least initially there is no smile on my face. “Your smile is a window to your heart,†I was told as a child. God wants that smile to be genuine. How do we make certain our smile is genuine?
God tells me in Philippians chapter 2 that my attitudes should be the same as Christ Jesus. He is God, yet for me he humbled himself, was obedient to the law in my place, and died the death I deserve. Then God exalted Jesus by resurrecting him from the dead. Now Jesus reigns in glory everlasting. And, because of all this, my attitudes can be like Christ Jesus. Through the Holy Spirit’s work in me, I have the joyful will and joyful ability to act according to God’s purpose.
The Holy Spirit motives me to be like-minded, reflecting God’s love, by being one in spirit and purpose. Because of Jesus, I can and will strive to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. In humility I will consider others better than myself. I can and will look not only to my own interests, but also to the interests of others. We can do this together wherever the Lord plants the wives of his pastors. All this for the glory of God!
Renewal in Oregon
We're wearing our faith on our sleeves - actually our shirts!
