Yes, preach the gospel to yourself. AND preach the gospel to the unreached. To do one without the other misses the point. - David Platt
Back in the summer of 2008 I was a counselor for Camp Ridgecrest near the beautiful town of Black Mountain, North Carolina. My first adventure of camp counseling, I approached the summer of discipleship and ministry with great expectations of the spiritual growth the campers and I would experience. Little did I know (some of you readers can testify to this) how physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually taxing fulfilling the role of camp counselor proved to be. Over the course of the eight week implementation of summer camp I grew weary, and struggled to portray Christ to the campers and fellow counselors.
What was the source of this apathetic lethargy? David Platt provided the answer in the quote above.
During the course of the summer at Camp Ridgecrest I focused intently on the well-being of the campers I served, but here lies the problem. Intent on creating an edifying experience for campers, I failed to set apart time to rest in the comforting and restorative embrace of my Lord and Savior. A dry well can't provide water to thirsty people. I needed to continually seek Christ, the Living Water, for fulfillment and the provision of love and truth before attempting to share Christ's gospel with the campers. Failing to abide in my Creator inhibited me from Christ-like service. Now thankfully God, in His sovereign will, overcame my weaknesses and orchestrated the summer for good and brought His name glory, but there is still a lesson to be learned.
We cannot grow and serve others separated from Christ. Jesus says "I am the vine; you are the branches" and "as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me" (John 15:5 and 4). No matter what our ministry and no matter what our intentions, we don't have the ability to expand God's kingdom separate from intimate communion with Jesus. Everyday make time for God. Talk with Him. Study His Word. Worship Him. And Christ will work mightily within, and through you.
Love you guys.
So true. The well only runs dry if we choose for it to. Such a relief that the living water is ever-flowing!
ReplyDeleteParallel to this Spiritual truth: "in case of a loss of cabin pressure...place the mask over your nose and mouth and adjust before helping a fellow passenger with their's." - Stewardess.
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