DAY 17: For the Next Generation

REVIVE: Day 17 Servant Leaders Devo

This Week’s Memory Verse – “Each one should use whatever gifts he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10

Before we can truly serve others, we have to get over ourselves. God has worked overtime to teach me this (even today). Beth Moore suggests in one of her books that we use a God-filter to help with areas of pride. For awhile I daily asked myself “am I doing this to glorify God, or to glorify Kim”. (Still do) The first time I did this, I was so sick of myself by the end of the week, I just cried as I realized how much of myself was in God’s way. Usually things at church or work, times where I wanted people to say “you’re so sweet” or “that’s so thoughtful”. P-R-I-D-E.

Before you beat yourself up for how many times you seek to glorify yourself, know that we all are, by nature, prideful and self-serving. It’s only by letting Christ live through us that we become humble. Luke 9:46-56, talks about how even the disciples struggled with pride. But, in Luke 9:48 Jesus tells them (and us) that “whoever is the least among you, he is the greatest.” How often do we want to be the least among anybody? Not often. We’re a country of people dying to be seen or heard.

I’m afraid our generation has failed to teach you young people Luke 9:48. Our motto as parents and leaders has been “be the best”, “go for it all”, “don’t settle for second best”. We’re an ambitious country and pride ourselves on our accomplishments. Even as churches, there are times we want to be the best or the greatest or the biggest. We’ve pushed you in select sports leagues, AP classes, leadership training, college prep courses… we schedule you for events nearly every day of the week in hopes of keeping you out of trouble. When have we taught you that to be “the least of these” means you will be “the greatest”? God isn’t going to say “well done” when we get to Heaven because we made a lot of money or we were the top athlete or because of the titles we held. ALL of that will be gone, forever, when we leave this earth. He will say “well done” because of the way you served others, for the amount you gave away, for the times you encouraged a friend, or the times you cared enough to share Him with others.

Your generation is the most compassionate generation in history, I believe. You truly want to help the needy or the hurting. You get angry about injustice. You wonder why the adults in your lives don’t look anything like Jesus, loving or serving like He did. You want to change the world, and you can. As Mike Guzzardo says this is the first time in history that the entire globe can be reached via technology. That’s why I love reading your MySpace or Facebook pages that have verses on them or worship songs. That’s your way of witnessing and glorifying God to the world.

Before I offend, I need to say I’m not against select sports leagues or AP classes. I believe God has gifted you in many ways and there will be times you can glorify God in those classes or on the field. I’ve seen you do it. Just think about what your primary focus is. When your God-filter tells you that you’re doing something to glorify yourself rather than God, it may be time to re-evaluate. Focus on things you can take with you to Heaven, especially people.

Use your God-filter for a week. Ask Him to reveal any areas of pride that are preventing you from using the gifts He’s given you or that prevent you from having a servant’s heart. Seek His applause, not the world’s. Having your parents or your friends approval is important, I know this. Just don’t miss the fact that when your parents or friends fail to see, you have a Heavenly Father that doesn’t miss even one thing you do. There is nothing you can do or become to make Him love you anymore than He does today. Live to be great in His eyes, and everything else will fall into place.

Father, we so long to be praised or to feel important. Please show us, remind us, that you sent Jesus to die on our behalf. There is no greater sacrifice to show us how important we are. Teach us to daily die to ourselves and to live to glorify you. Please get us out of the way Lord. You have so much to do through us in this generation, at this time. We want to be great in Your eyes. We want to hear you say “well done”. Help us remember it is by faith, not works; and that all we need to do is get over ourselves and let you shine through us. We love you Father, with all we have and all we are. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Students, pray today for God to start preparing the hearts of each teen coming on the REVIVE retreat, for hearts to be open to His teaching and work.

Love, love, love you!
Kim