The 1 Corinthians 4 Woman

Mrs. Kershaw was an elderly woman, quite deaf, lumpy, uneducated, not terribly talented, probably not what any of us would call successful in an outward sense. She was a "helper" to Mrs. Katherine Howard, helping to run a household that included six children. The second oldest of the Howard children, a daughter, grew up to be something of a well-known author. This is what Elisabeth Elliot wrote of the dearly loved woman:

If ever a woman accepted the demands of her own life with simplicity and grace, it was she. It was a positive and active acceptance of the given. Words which have taken hold of our minds today like some noxious fungus--hassle, frustration, hang-up, put-down--were never in Mrs. Kershaw's vocabulary, nor could they have been. She wasn't interested in herself. She had nothing to say about herself or her own feelings. She lived for us.

I think of the contrasts Paul speaks about in 1 Corinthians 4. It is illuminating to set them in two lists and read straight down one list, then read down the other and ask oneself which list describes his or her own life.

handicapped       never frustrated
puzzled                 never in despair
persecuted           never have to stand it alone
knocked down    never knocked out

For Paul to have said that--Paul, who had suffered the loss of all things, ought to shake up our categories of what is worth having. Mrs. Kershaw would have said the same. I doubt that it ever occurred to her that she had been deprived of anything in her life that really mattered. The Lord had made His face to shine upon her and had given her peace, and she brought that shine and that peace to our house every day.
Elisabeth Elliot, Love Has a Price Tag (Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 2005), 167-168.

I need to be reminded of women like Mrs. Kershaw, invaluable, lovely, homely Mrs. Kershaw. Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. (Prov. 31:30)

Serving Others--Self Takes A Back Seat

It is really hard to be good at serving others.

I'm really good at serving myself. In fact, the moment I am in need of something, I put a lot of energy into attaining whatever 'it' is--a drink, a fuzzy blanket to snuggle up to on the couch, someone to listen to my problems...the list goes on.

Before one can serve others, they have to see what people's needs are.

I've learned that great servants are often quiet, melding into the background. But they are always active. Servants are constantly on the alert and are very aware of their surroundings. A great servant is one who is proactive--someone who not only reacts to situations, but anticipates them.

Serving is really hard work. It takes a lot of practice. It takes dedication. It definitely does not come easily for most of us--the flesh longs to be served, not to serve.

I am so thankful for role models.

Jesus came to serve. Mind-boggling and very humbling to be served by my King.

My mom served her family, church, relatives, neighbors, strangers, all with a joyful spirit.

Many at TFC I have observed serving in a myriad of ways: holding doors open, holding babies so mothers can mingle, filling others' plates and cups, purposing to verbally uplift and encourage individuals, humbly rebuking when necessary, sharing recipes, offering advice on everything from stain removal to life insurance...I could think of a thousand things...

For me the difficulty lies in seeing what needs others have. Have you ever seen someone do an act of service that made you think, 'I should have done that,' or 'Why didn't I think of that?' Often there are needs all around us that we simply do not see until it is too late.

The psalmist said that the Lord teaches the humble person His ways and instructs him in what is right.

O Lord, teach us to 'out-serve' each other, in the spirit of Your Son, Who is the Great Servant.

"For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself'...so then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith."                                                                         Galatians 5:13-14, 6:10

Ministry of Encouragement

Biblical encouragement takes many forms. But whatever the form, biblical encouragement is "ongoing, daily, and consistent. It includes the practices of strengthening, motivating, assuring, supporting, exhorting and disciplining." (Sharon Betters)

Webster's dictionary defines encouragement: "To give courage, spirit, or hope; to stimulate."

Do you see here that encouragement is so much more than a "high five", or a hug, or the promise to pray (although those are all elements of encouragement). There is much more to this than what is commonly thought. There is so much to this that I'm afraid I will not do the subject justice. My intention is to encourage you (and myself) to be encouragers. My thoughts will be largely drawn from Sharon Betters in her book, "Treasures of Encouragement."

Sharon Betters is a pastor's wife who, on July 6, 1993, lost her sixteen year old son, Mark, in a car accident. It was through this deep trial Sharon came to understand that "Biblical encouragement is soul work." When one individual extends, or receives biblical encouragement, their soul is affected for good. It is the lifting up of the eyes to see the true Help. Sometimes our eyes are so downcast we feel as though we cannot lift them. So, we need the help of another to gently lift the chin upward so the eyes can more easily see the Truth. Though Sharon's book is largely about responding to people in trial, she recognizes that at times we all need the kind of encouragement that helps us to see our own hearts, and the sin that may be gripping us. She understands that Biblical encouragement is "coming alongside" someone, as the Holy Spirit does, and giving them the Words of Life for their souls in whatever state they are in. It may be grief. It could be singleness. It could be childlessness It could be the trials of parenting preschoolers, or teenagers. It could be the loneliness of being a widow. It could be a struggle in a marriage. It could be depression. It could be doubt, fears, pride, jealousy, anger, bitterness. Biblical encouragement is stepping into any of these and others with the truth of God's word, speaking that truth with love. And it can be simply saying, "I love you," "I appreciate what you are doing," or "Thank you."

Tomorrow I will begin to answer the "how to" and "who to" questions. I'm sure you have some. I know I often do. I can go from wanting to encourage everyone, to being tired and not wanting to encourage at all, and wanting encouragement myself. I found Sharon's suggestions helpful in finding the balance and the boundaries to this ministry. I hope you will too.

Encourage One Another Daily

I was thinking this morning about this verse from Hebrews 10:15 and one like it, "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up" (1 Thess. 5:11). How does this apply to my day to day living? Who am I to encourage? How do I encourage?

I remember hearing from someone many years ago (can't remember who it was) that when we walk into a room, our concern should not be, "Who will notice me, or who will talk to me, or who will encourage me?" Rather, before we meet with any person or persons, our thoughts should be, "Who can I notice, or who can I talk to, or who can I encourage when I enter the room?"

If we have been transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who stepped down from His Glory, humbled Himself, and was cursed by God in order to bring us to God, so ought we to step out of our "comfort zones" and step into another's life in order to bring the blessing of encouragement to another. Jesus didn't come to be served but to give His life for us.

This isn't easy. We must resist and fight against our natural instinct (our flesh), which wants to be served. We cannot begin to fulfill this command to encourage if we are stuck on ourselves and our own desire to be on the receiving end of Hebrews 10:25.

How do we do this? First of all (then more tomorrow), we need to begin each day in God's presence, being reminded of the Gospel. We cannot begin to serve our husband, our children, our families, and our brothers and sisters in Christ unless we gaze at Christ and "have this mind." In fact, Philippians 2 begins by giving us our motivation for encouragement. "If there is any encouragement in Christ..." Are you encouraged in Christ? Are you experiencing His comfort, the fellowship of the Spirit, and His affection and sympathy? If you are, then Philippians 2 is the only motive you (I) need.

It's been several months since I've spent time reading the "Gospel Primer" by Milton Vincent. I think it is time for me to return to that wonderfully clear presentation of the Gospel with its practical help for applying the Gospel to various areas of life. Let me leave you with this quote:

The more I experience the gospel, the more there develops within me a yearning affection for my fellow-Christians who are also participating in the glories of the gospel. This affection for them comes loaded with confidence in their continued spiritual growth and ultimate glorification, and it becomes my pleasure to express to them this loving confidence regarding the ongoing work of God in their lives.

Additionally, with the gospel proving itself to be such a boon in my own life, I realize that the greatest gift I can give to my fellow-Christians is the gospel itself. Indeed, I love my fellow-Christians not simply because of the gospel, but I love them best when I am loving them with the gospel! And I do this not merely by speaking gospel words to them, but also by living before them and generously relating to them in a gospel manner. Imparting my life to them in this way, I thereby contribute to their experience of the power, the Spirit, and the full assurance of the gospel.

By preaching the gospel to myself each day, I nurture the bond that unites me with my brothers and sisters for whom Christ died, and I also keep myself well-versed in the raw materials with which I may actively love them in Christ.

More tomorrow. Until then I'd love to hear if you have received this kind of encouragement from another within the Body of Christ. What was that like? What impact did it have on you?

Not What My Hands Have Done

This morning's message reminded me of this old hymn by Horatius Bonar

"Not what my hands have done can save my guilty soul
not what my toiling flesh has borne can make my spirit whole.
Not what I feel or do can give me peace with God
not all my prayers and sighs and tears can bear my awful load.

Thy work alone O Christ, can ease this weight of sin;
thy blood alone, O Lamb of God, can give me peace within.
Thy love to me, O God, not mine, O Lord, to thee,
can rid me of this dark unrest, and set my spirit free.

Thy grace alone, O God, to me can pardon speak;
thy pow'r alone, O Son of God, can this sore bondage break,
No other work, save thine, no other blood will do;
no strength, save that which is divine, can bear me safely through.

I bless the Christ of God; I rest on love divine;
and with unfaltering lip and heart, I call this Savior mine,
His cross dispels each doubt; I bury in his tomb
each thought of unbelief and fear, each lingering shade of gloom.

I praise the God of grace; I trust his truth and might;
he calls me his, I call him mine, my God, my joy, my light.
'Tis he who saveth me, and freely pardon gives;
I love because he loveth me, I live because he lives."