LEADERS SEEK OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE

LEADERS SEEK OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE

Text: Philippians 2:19-22
Memory text:
““For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption;” ‭‭
Acts‬ ‭13‬:‭36‬

Born in Macedonia, Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, popularly called, Mother Theresa, was a remarkable woman who dedicated her life to serving the poorest of the poor. From an early age, she felt her life’s purpose was to serve God full-time. At age eighteen, she left home to join the Sisters of Loreto in Ireland and having completed her training as a nun, she traveled to India where she spent nearly two decades teaching in a secondary school. During this time, Mother Theresa witnessed firsthand the extreme poverty and suffering faced by many people living on the streets. This experience ignited within her a determination to alleviate their pain and bring hope, healing and education to the needy in Calcutta.
While still pursuing her purpose, Mother Theresa founded the Missionaries of Charity and became renowned for her selfless service. Her passion to help others caused her to identify with them in every way. She became a citizen of India and always kept her vow of poverty even when she became famous. Her work expanded beyond India to other nations and she influenced thousands of people to join in her work and stirred up their own leadership gifts.
Mother Theresa believed in the difference that one person could make in the world saying, “If you can’t feed a hundred people, just feed one.” She also said, “Love is a fruit in season at all times and within reach of every hand.”
This is the point. Leaders don’t look for positions but they look for opportunities to serve others. That is what we see in our text. Paul boldly recommended Timothy to the Philippi church because of his past record of service, prompted by his love for the people. He said, “But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.” ‭‭(Phil‬ ‭2‬:‭22‬). Opportunities for service always abound wherever people exist and whoever discovers them and gives himself or herself to serving is a true leader. So was the leader in the teenage David discovered. “He also chose David His servant, And took him from the sheepfolds;” ‭‭(Psa‬ ‭78‬:‭70‬).
Leaders are easily identified, not by their titles but by their service to God and humanity. In fact, the way to truly serve God is to serve humanity, as said about David in our memory text.
Friends, awaken the leader in you by discovering opportunities to serve around you and give yourself to it.

Prayer points
1. Father, ignite the love for You and people in my heart, open my eyes to discover opportunities to serve and help me to give myself to it, in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, I refuse to waste my life seeking for positions and titles and to die unfulfilled, in Jesus’ name.

Today’s declarations
1. I serve God through serving people, so if I am not serving, I am simply not a leader.
2. I am not called a leader by my title, label or by where I sit but by what I do; service identifies me as a leader among the people.

Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng