DIVA OR DIVINE
DAY 135: Before I was a Christian speaker, I will admit to you that I thought being a Christian speaker was a glamorous occupation. I'm not talking American Idol glamorous or red carpet glamorous, but maybe Kathi Lee Gifford glamorous. I had an image of what I thought it would be like as "the speaker" at women's events. My desire was to share the word of God and to encourage women to thrive in their place in life, but in doing so it seemed to me that the natural byproduct would be a modicum of, shall we say, special-ness.
Then I became a Christian speaker. Along with my partner, Pam, we have been diligent to tell each ministry director that we are "low maintenance" speakers and that we are there to meet their needs as much as we can; and 99% of the time they have taken us at our word. We have set up tables, decorated rooms, passed out programs, served desserts, filled tea glasses, and cleaned up empty sanctuaries. The list goes on of ways we have found to pitch in in a pinch. We discovered special-ness for us means serving alongside all the other special women who are serving behind the scenes.
We are thankful God has kept our hearts on Him even though along with the service many of our hosting churches have find little ways to tap in to our inner-diva-ness. We've been asked what special foods we might like, what kind of pillows we wanted in our hotel rooms, given gift baskets, assigned assistants, and on and on. We are always grateful but try to never be expectant of special treatment, especially knowing how feeling entitled is perceived. One group told us that the previous speaker had sent a list of "requirements" covering the smallest details of her visit, including the demand for a bowl of blue M & Ms in her "green room" before she took the stage. We were glad to tell them we had no list to send.
There have been many such stories over the years that served as great reminders to us that how we serve must be just as intentional as the decision to serve. We can be "diva-servants" or we can be "divine-servants"like those who model servant-hood for us in scripture.
Paul and all those around him chose to be "divine-servants." Acts 18 gives a glimpse into "how" several of those who followed Jesus chose to serve particularly when things did not go the glamorous way. Paul had just left Athens where he had engaged in some robust debates with the foremost Greek philosophers of the day. Paul loved to debate. He excels at debating the ins and out of the Old Testament scriptures, human philosophies and the superiority of Christ. He was a rock-star debater.
After that exhilarating experience he came to Corinth and started from scratch - not debating, but making a living so he could eat. That was not exactly highlighting his great gift. But it was practical. It was needed for the moment - so that is what Paul did. And He did it alongside two new friends.
Priscilla and Aquila were Jews who had been living in Rome, but it was a tumultuous time.
Acts 18: 2 They had left Italy when Claudius Caesar deported all Jews from Rome.
Simply because they were Jews, they were forced out of their home, their business, their region and even their country. They had to find a new place and start over. We don't know when they became followers of Jesus, but scripture makes it clear they were. Perhaps they had dreams of staying in Rome and building the church body there in the "uttermost parts of the world" as Jesus had said. Yet in a very unglamorous fashion, these servants were sent packing. And they went to Corinth. There they met Paul and discovered they all had the same occupation- they were tent makers. So now three tent makers who loved Jesus and greatly desired to serve by growing the church of Christ, sat and sewed tents. They served Jesus by sewing - not just sowing.
But imagine how encouraged Paul must have been to find these two! "A cord of three stands,"Proverbs says, "is not quickly broken." It may not have been how or where or when any of them envisioned their service, but they served in that place anyway with Paul who made sure he was at "a synagogue each sabbath to try to convince those Jews and Greeks alike" to believe.
But they are not the only ones who were flexible. Silas and Timothy finally caught up with Paul not to find a booming ministry they could jump in and take an upfront role; they found a need for someone to relieve Paul of earning an income. They must have.
5 And after Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul spent all his time preaching the word. He testified to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.
The same chapter introduces Titius Justus a Gentile who worshiped God. Because he lived next door to the synagogue Paul moved in with him. Perhaps that was not what he imagined when Paul asked him if he wanted to be on the team. For him, service would mean another mouth to feed and provide for and a long term house guest.
During his time in Corinth, Paul was arrested yet again. And just as he was about to begin one of his famous defenses and debates in front of this high official, the governor silenced him and dismissed his case. He wouldn't wow that prestigious crowd, but was sent back out to the mob to make his defense and win hearts among the common people.
Eventually, Paul leaves Corinth for Syria and Priscilla and Aquila go with him, I'm sure intending to church plant. But Paul leaves them in Ephesus, rather than giving them the glamor of travel. So they serve there. On and on the stories go through out the New Testament. People who join on the team to serve, and who encounter service in ways they did not expect. Some turned back when it didn't meet their expectations. Some were high maintenance.
And some discovered the secret Paul, and Priscilla and Aquila and many other also discovered: "The thing about serving is that it isn't true service until there's nothing in it for you--no personal benefit, only pure sacrifice." That's a quote from my friend and novelist Kristen Heitzmann.
Jesus put it another way: "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." John 12:24
I am thankful to have the reminder that if I am unsatisfied with my service, then I was looking to get something from it more than I was looking to give it. To serve at any cost is the only way to offer "divine service."
Day 135 of 365
2 Kings 10:32-36
2 Kings 11
2 Kings 12
Acts 18:1-22
Psalm 145:1-21
Proverbs 18:1
We are thankful God has kept our hearts on Him even though along with the service many of our hosting churches have find little ways to tap in to our inner-diva-ness. We've been asked what special foods we might like, what kind of pillows we wanted in our hotel rooms, given gift baskets, assigned assistants, and on and on. We are always grateful but try to never be expectant of special treatment, especially knowing how feeling entitled is perceived. One group told us that the previous speaker had sent a list of "requirements" covering the smallest details of her visit, including the demand for a bowl of blue M & Ms in her "green room" before she took the stage. We were glad to tell them we had no list to send.
There have been many such stories over the years that served as great reminders to us that how we serve must be just as intentional as the decision to serve. We can be "diva-servants" or we can be "divine-servants"like those who model servant-hood for us in scripture.
Paul and all those around him chose to be "divine-servants." Acts 18 gives a glimpse into "how" several of those who followed Jesus chose to serve particularly when things did not go the glamorous way. Paul had just left Athens where he had engaged in some robust debates with the foremost Greek philosophers of the day. Paul loved to debate. He excels at debating the ins and out of the Old Testament scriptures, human philosophies and the superiority of Christ. He was a rock-star debater.
After that exhilarating experience he came to Corinth and started from scratch - not debating, but making a living so he could eat. That was not exactly highlighting his great gift. But it was practical. It was needed for the moment - so that is what Paul did. And He did it alongside two new friends.
Priscilla and Aquila were Jews who had been living in Rome, but it was a tumultuous time.
Acts 18: 2 They had left Italy when Claudius Caesar deported all Jews from Rome.
Simply because they were Jews, they were forced out of their home, their business, their region and even their country. They had to find a new place and start over. We don't know when they became followers of Jesus, but scripture makes it clear they were. Perhaps they had dreams of staying in Rome and building the church body there in the "uttermost parts of the world" as Jesus had said. Yet in a very unglamorous fashion, these servants were sent packing. And they went to Corinth. There they met Paul and discovered they all had the same occupation- they were tent makers. So now three tent makers who loved Jesus and greatly desired to serve by growing the church of Christ, sat and sewed tents. They served Jesus by sewing - not just sowing.
But imagine how encouraged Paul must have been to find these two! "A cord of three stands,"Proverbs says, "is not quickly broken." It may not have been how or where or when any of them envisioned their service, but they served in that place anyway with Paul who made sure he was at "a synagogue each sabbath to try to convince those Jews and Greeks alike" to believe.
But they are not the only ones who were flexible. Silas and Timothy finally caught up with Paul not to find a booming ministry they could jump in and take an upfront role; they found a need for someone to relieve Paul of earning an income. They must have.
5 And after Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul spent all his time preaching the word. He testified to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.
The same chapter introduces Titius Justus a Gentile who worshiped God. Because he lived next door to the synagogue Paul moved in with him. Perhaps that was not what he imagined when Paul asked him if he wanted to be on the team. For him, service would mean another mouth to feed and provide for and a long term house guest.
During his time in Corinth, Paul was arrested yet again. And just as he was about to begin one of his famous defenses and debates in front of this high official, the governor silenced him and dismissed his case. He wouldn't wow that prestigious crowd, but was sent back out to the mob to make his defense and win hearts among the common people.
Eventually, Paul leaves Corinth for Syria and Priscilla and Aquila go with him, I'm sure intending to church plant. But Paul leaves them in Ephesus, rather than giving them the glamor of travel. So they serve there. On and on the stories go through out the New Testament. People who join on the team to serve, and who encounter service in ways they did not expect. Some turned back when it didn't meet their expectations. Some were high maintenance. And some discovered the secret Paul, and Priscilla and Aquila and many other also discovered: "The thing about serving is that it isn't true service until there's nothing in it for you--no personal benefit, only pure sacrifice." That's a quote from my friend and novelist Kristen Heitzmann.
Jesus put it another way: "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." John 12:24
I am thankful to have the reminder that if I am unsatisfied with my service, then I was looking to get something from it more than I was looking to give it. To serve at any cost is the only way to offer "divine service."
Day 135 of 365
2 Kings 10:32-36
2 Kings 11
2 Kings 12
Acts 18:1-22
Psalm 145:1-21
Proverbs 18:1
Comments
Post a Comment