Who Are You?

O. T. #1074  "Who Are You?"
Oct. 5, 2017
Nehemiah 11-Part 3

LET IT GLOW

Willing unknowns, behind-the-scenes servants, low-profile people, unsung heroes, a bunch of people nobody ever heard of, these are phrases Swindoll used to describe the folks in chapter 11. Why study them, since we won't remember their names? Did they make a difference at all? Did they doubt their self-worth? Did they question the value of their gifts and talents? Can we relate?

Swindoll gives us 3 helpful principles hat can encourage us during these times of self-doubt:

1. Your gift makes you valuable, if not necessarily popular. Being a leader can be a lonely, often thankless job. sometimes there is little room for failure or mistakes. and others may not notice or understand the extra time and energy you devote to your role. but God sees, and He knows your heart. The same is true of those who are gifted in an area that never reaches the spotlight.
2. Every labor done in love is remembered by God, never forgotten. Even if your public duties and private actions nobody notices, God does, so be faithful.
3. Our final reward in heaven will be determined on the basis of personal faithfulness, not public applause. God will reward you in heaven based on the pure-hearted service of your of your life, rather than according to the number of plaques, trophies, or thank-you notes you've received.

Hebrews 6:10 says, For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.

I don't know about you, but I needed that. Let us keep serving and loving in Jesus' name.


LET IT GROW

What if we offer our small gifts to be used by the Lord Jesus? What if we looked around our world and saw unknowns faithfully working hard, day after day. Can we encourage them with our gratitude? Appreciate them with thank-you notes, an email or text message.

But whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many. Mark 10:43b-44.

Are we giving our life serving others?

LET IT GO
                          ...and let God.