“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is; his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2
The two verses written to the people of Rome by Apostle Paul go against the grain of this world we live in today as we are told that everything, we do is about me: it’s most certainly all about me! The attached photo at a Lutheran school in Petionville has two unusual things to look at. First, there is a light switch on the wall and there isn’t electricity running to it throughout the day; probably only for several hours after the sun goes down but when the school was built there was hope that one day, there would be electricity. Second, the two feeding program directors and the principal were very surprised when I asked them to hold up the ‘Praise the Lord!’ signs instead of the children in the back of the room; that is typically kid stuff. Each of us at times are asked to do menial chores that seem to be beneath who we imagine ourselves to be. Sometimes, humbly serving the Lord can be the best of times. Being a Trinity HOPE sponsor isn’t difficult work, but it is very fulfilling when you learn about the blessings that our Heavenly Father is accomplishing daily through the use of your treasures. May your day be filled with many opportunities to serve our Lord joyfully with your time and talents. and treasures. I am closing today with the words from the hymn Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service that was written by Albert F. Bayly in 1961.
“Lord, whose love through humble service bore the weight of human need, Who upon the cross, forsaken, offered mercy's perfect deed, we, Your servants, bring the worship not of voice alone, but heart, consecrating to Your purpose every gift that You impart.
Still Your children wander homeless; still the hungry cry for bread; still the captives long for freedom; still in grief we mourn our dead. As, O Lord, Your deep compassion healed the sick and freed the soul, use the love Your Spirit kindles still to save and make us whole.
As we worship, grant us vision, till Your love's revealing light, in its height and depth and greatness, dawns upon our quickened sight, making known the needs and burdens Your compassion bids us bear, stirring us to tireless striving, Your abundant life to share.
Called from worship to Your service, forth in Your dear name we go, to the child, the youth, the aged, love in living deeds to show; hope and health, goodwill and comfort, counsel, aid, and peace we give, that Your servants, Lord, in freedom may Your mercy know and live.”
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen