THE TRUE FAN
Last week I had the opportunity to speak at the Hope Lodge. I began by explaining to them our book Game On. In our book, we look at the cancer team in this way:
It is like a bullseye with the cancer patient in the middle. In the center with the cancer patient are all the medical personnel. This makes up the huddle. Then you begin to work your way out, starting with the caregiver, then the cheerleader, and then the fan. Most of our lives, we will be most often in the fan category. This led me to explain the fan.
As I sat several years ago in the stands at a basketball game, I looked around at all the fans. I noticed that there were three different types of fans. The first being the “what is the score fan?” this is the fan that doesn’t care to be there. They are only there for the interaction with others, the food, and the fellowship. They may be there to be nosey. Then you have the not so sure fan. These are the fans that aren’t quite sure what to do. They don’t know if they should stand up or sit down, cheer, or be quiet; they don’t want to do anything wrong or bring attention to themselves. They don’t know what to do. Then you have the true fan. These are the fans that bleed the color of the team. They’re there 24/7. You never have to ask them to cheer because they are the forever cheerleaders. If they aren’t on the sidelines, they are on the field with you carrying you when you fall.
Probably during your lifetime, you have been one of each of these fans. But we should all strive to be a true fan. Eddy Hord said in his stewardship speech yesterday this statement, “You use a spoon to feed yourself; you use a ladle to feed others.” We all need to become ladles instead of being soup spoons. God created us to serve by feeding others. Feeding others, whatever that may look like to you, is being a true fan.
DIVE INTO SCRIPTURE
1 Corinthians 13:3 New International Version (NIV)
3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[a] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Serving is more than just serving someone. Serving is a heart issue.
Rick Warren says, “God is more interested in your why you serve than how well you serve. God wants us to serve willingly and eagerly out of love for Jesus and gratitude for all he’s done effort you. You are most like Jesus when you’re helping others. After washing his disciples’ feet, Jesus said, I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you (John 13:14-15)
In the article, 8 Blessing We Get from Serving, #8 was my favorite.
SERVING IS GOOD FOR YOUR SOUL
Studies have shown that volunteering is so good for the mind and body that it can ease symptoms of stress and depression. Tapping into our gifts and passions builds self-confidence, energy, and strength. Serving others can also be the best distraction from our worries. We make all sorts of rational explanations for not serving:
I don’t have time.
I don’t know what I would do.
I don’t have any special skills to contribute.
They don’t need me.
But the reality is the Lord doesn’t call the equipped; He equips the called. God used men and women with similar doubts to change the course of history. Moses didn’t think he was a leader or speaker, but God worked through Moses to bring Israel out of slavery. David was the youngest (and therefore most insignificant) of all his brothers, but God worked through David to defeat a giant and eventually made him a king. Paul used to kill Christians before he met Jesus, but he went on to become one of the most highly regarded and prolific writers/church planters in history.
God doesn’t just want to work through you; He wants to work in you.
My favorite scripture has always been 1 Peter 4:10.
1 Peter 4:10-11 says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms… so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.” Serving is a form of worship, a way to express gratitude for what Jesus has done for us, and to share the love and grace we’ve been given.
Find your gifts and talents. Search your heart and serve others. Be a ladle instead of a spoon, be A TRUE FAN.
CHALLENGES OF THE WEEK
- Keep the daily appointment
- Dive deep into the word
- Serve, be a true fan
- Fill your cup with Christ so you can fill other cups
RESOURCES:
https://thelife.com/we-serve-god-by-serving-others
https://newspring.cc/articles/8-blessings-we-get-from-serving
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