Commissioned to Serve
Sunday / January 31, 2010
"And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all" (Mark 10:44).
When was your defining moment of deciding to homeschool your children? Mine came one day as I stood over the kitchen sink washing dishes for the fourth time. After running all day to keep up with my preschoolers and the housework, I felt as limp as the dish rag I was holding. I had been thinking about homeschooling, but quite frankly, the thought of being a homeschooling parent for the rest of my life wasn't too appealing right then. As my children entertained themselves with one of their favorite Christian music tapes, the words to the song they were playing echoed in my thoughts. In that moment, something happened. The Holy Spirit convicted me and said, "Are you willing to be my servant?"
"Yes," I replied.
"Then teach these children about Me," He said lovingly.
"But I don't know how, God," I cried.
"Trust me," He said in return.
Throughout my homeschooling experience, no other moment was quite as powerful as that one. Taking God at His word, I began to learn that you can't be a good homeschooling parent without learning how to be a servant first. God gave me a new love for my children and the wisdom to use my spiritual gifts of teaching, administration, and exhortation to benefit the people I loved most, my family. Although plenty of "rag days" were still to come, I knew I was serving my Lord right where He wanted me to be!
Learning how to be a servant doesn't come easy for any of us. Our selfish flesh screams so loudly, "What about me?" Homeschooling may take you to a new dimension of sacrifice, but it will never be as great as Christ's sacrificial love for you. His death on the cross washed away every mess you will ever make, and He never complained once while doing it. With Jesus as your role model, will you pick up your towel and continue serving the Lord in your homeschool? "For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45).
Jesus, help me to hear Your voice today instead of the "What about me's?" Thank You for Your wondrous love that sacrificed so much for me. Give me a servant's heart and teach me to follow You. In Your precious name, Amen.
The Mighty Mo' was in dry dock for several weeks and after its grand unveiling, military could come aboard for free.... after our self- guided mini-tour, I asked myself why didn't we visit a few years ago. $15 a person is nothing compared to what those men sacrificed for us. It was beautiful....