Today I was re-reading a favorite book, No Greater Love by one of my heroes, Mother Teresa. The following words really stood out:
“God loved the world so much that He gave Jesus. Today He loves the world so much that He gives you and me to be His love, His compassion, and His presence, through a live of prayer, of sacrifice, of surrender to God.”
It has been quite a month. Setting up Impact Nation’s water projects in three communities in Haiti; a new sewing school in an Indian village celebrating its first graduation, followed immediately by launching a second sewing class; expanding the beggars feeding program; working on two upcoming Journeys of Compassion with Impact Nations; and ... well, you get the idea.
All of this activity is rewarding and exciting. Lives are being changed by the doing of the gospel. And yet, it carries its own danger––it can become the center, rather than the result of living in the True Center.
Jesus both promised, and looks for, “fruit that remains” in our lives. When we wisely invest the gifts and opportunities that He has given us, pursuing His greater purpose, we hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your master.” (Mt 25:23) Yet true ministry is the result of a life of intimacy with Him. (Jn 15:5).
In the fast pace and excitement of so much Kingdom activity, I felt a gentle tug for the past several days. It was Jesus, calling me to come aside, simply to be with Him, and, in the midst of this intimacy, to once again find life in Him.
So, as I finally responded to His wooing, as I chose to step back from the momentum and pull of the day, I discovered once again that He was waiting for me. I was created for this more than anything else: to be with Him.
I can only give away what I truly have to give. Ministry without His life source can be very exciting, but ultimately it is counterfeit. Today, once again, Jesus gave me “His love, His compassion and His presence.” He gave these because He loves me and because He has decided (amazing grace!) to love the world through me.
Steve Stewart is the founder of Impact Nations, a Christian organization that brings hope and restoration to the poor and vulnerable in the developing world through both supernatural and practical expressions of the Kingdom of God. Follow Steve on Twitter at @impactnations or learn more at impactnations.com.
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