10/10/2021 - Serving at Illuminate - Bigger, Smaller, Deeper - Pastor Jason Fritz

Shortly after WWII came to a close, Europe began picking up the pieces. Much of the old country had been ravaged by war and was in ruins. Perhaps the saddest sight of all was that of orphaned children starving in the streets. Boys and girls walking around in the bitter cold searching for food after losing their parents. Early one chilly morning a US soldier was making his way back to the barracks in London. As he turned the corner in his Jeep, he spotted a little boy with his nose pressed against the window of a pastry shop. Inside the cook was making a fresh batch of dough for the doughnuts. The hungry boy stared there in silence, watching every move. The soldier pulled his Jeep to the curb, got out and walked quietly over to the little guy was standing. Through the steamed up window he could see these mouth watering doughnuts, piping hot, coming out of the oven. The boy salivated and released a slight grown as he watched the cook place them on the counter. “Son, would you like some of those?” The boy was startled. “Oh yeah, I would!” The soldier walked inside and bought a dozen and stuffed them in a bag. He walked up to the boy and with a big smile said, “Here you go.” As he walked away he felt a tug on his coat, the boy looked up at him and said, “Are you God?” 

We are never more like God than we selflessly serve another person. Read the words of Jesus as he explains his purpose for coming to the earth...

"...even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28.
 
His purpose is our purpose…

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

Serving others is good work. This is the reason why God created us, gifted us, and saved us so that we can be a blessing to others. Serving gives you life here and now and God will reward you in the life to come. The question is - What are you going to do about it? If you’re not serving others, then it’s simply a matter of not following God’s plan for your life. By his grace, God continues to draw people to Illuminate. This means we have many opportunities for you to bless others. So, if you’ve been on the bench it’s time to get in the game. We won’t be all that we can be without you!