via TJC
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.” - Matthew 6:1
One measurement of a victorious Godly man can be seen in how he functions without consideration for his reputation. Victorious men have deep spiritual taproots, wrapped around hearing the Lord. This allows them to live a life patterned after Jesus; a life of serving others WITHOUT consideration of appearances. Applause, adoration, recognition, and status are never the end goal for men of God. Real victory requires no such announcements.
As a pastor, I am always looking to replicate other pastoral men. I look for leaders who are servants first. In the past, men have approached me looking for positions. One particular year, three men sought to teach and speak in the church. The Lord gave me ideas for each man, prior to their public appearances:
1. Come early on Sunday mornings to pray and help set up the over 200 chairs. Our church rented space in a local recreation center that required both setups and tear-down of seating.
2. Help assist two needy families with home repairs and pray with them. This included laying hands on toilets and repairing water damage.
3. Assist those who needed financial assistance, by praying with them. Then helping create and live within a budget.
None of these works were going to be heralded publicly. All required getting your hands dirty. But the needs were real and I would discover what sort of root system these men had. The end, from the beginning, is to serve others AND to see if these men could serve without public applause. True service requires true love. Anything less, the service becomes an act or display.
Daily Battle Order
Be known by your fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? Do your service without consideration for your reputation. Victory in service is in replicating Jesus’ pattern. Victorious men only need to hear “Well done” from our Father.
Join us June 11th and learn how knowing the beginning from the end would have helped the armies of the North and the South at The First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run), and how knowing the beginning from the end helps us today to have Victory in our lives.
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