In my walk with Christ I have done my best to not ask for signs to guide me towards the plan that he has in store for me. I have learned time and time again that the Lord has given us every bit of guidance that we need in his word. I thought however that it might not guide me in what I wanted to do after graduation, that was what I thought.
From church sermons to bible studies and youth groups, sign after sign and push after shove came to tell me emphatically that I needed to go on this trip. In a sermon telling me that I can be bold in the Lord’s work for he has already saved me on the cross. In his Word, the Lord pushed me to put myself last and to stop investing in myself and the world knowing that “all is vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). The Lord led me to realize that he had filled my life with innumerable blessings and then he spoke to me through his Word saying:
“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But whoever has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word and talk but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:16-18)
I know now that I need to be a pipe and not a pail (Pastor Pokluda), no longer gathering up the wealth of this world but being a better steward and distributing it to those in need. For me this means not only giving what the Lord has given me but also myself to the kingdom and to those around me. Jesus Christ held nothing back and gave his life for our sins and I hope that this can be my first step to giving my life to the Lord. Not only that but the Lord has commanded us to go out into the world and t set ourselves apart from it, “[to] let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). So until I get the chance to minister abroad, I will do my best and work my hardest to minister while I am still here and to boldly share the Lords will as best I can knowing “that I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).
I don’t know who Pastor Pokluda is, but the imagery of being a pipe and not a pail is fire! Praying that the Lord continues to use that visual for stewardship with both the tangible and the intangible in your life. He will use it for His glory when you are compassionate, caring, and have a heart of giving toward those in need around you. Thanks for your yes!
-Samantha (WR K Squad 2021)