another purpose driven life devotion email i thought….. but instead
of ignoring it as i ALWAYS do. i clicked on in and read it. i STRONGLY
advise you to take a moment and read it too.
In his book The Purpose Driven Life,
Rick Warren makes a very radical statement: “If I have no love for
others, no desire to serve others, I should question whether Christ is
really in my life.”This bold assertion comes from something John said
in his first letter:
“If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it
proves that we have passed from death to eternal life. But a person who
has no love is still dead.” (1 John 3:14)

Can you look at your life over the last few days and
see evidence of the fact that you have cared about someone other than
yourself?Can you point to some examples of how you have served a
brother or a sister in some way?If you can, take heart.If you can’t, it
might be a good time for some soul searching.
I have tried this little test on myself, and I must
admit I don’t always do very well. Even though I spend a good deal of
time serving others through my gifts of speaking and writing while I am
on the road, you could also say that this is my work. This is what I’m
expected to do. I do this for a living. I am “on” for these moments of
ministry.But I can get very selfish with my “off” time.I isolate myself
in a hotel room or an airplane seat.I make myself unavailable to the
needs around me.I might not even call home, because that would only
remind me of those there who need my attention.
Sometimes, I think we need to step in and serve even
if we don’t feel like it. Once we do, Christ energizes us and gives us
not only the strength to do this, but the desire to do it again.Ask God
to open your eyes to those around you and show you ways in which you
can serve them in love.That’s being obedient to what he asks and
finding his power to do it all at the same time.
How about this?I’ll pray for you right now and you
pray for me that God will awaken us with hearts to serve, the wisdom to
see the need, and the power to follow through.
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who has shown me kindness and love these past week or so. it has given
me the courage to love the people around me

colleges back in tomorrow…. i pray that i can take what i’ve learnt during this summer and put them into practice.