It’s Time

Carlos Thompson   -  

The message from Dr. Drew Shofner, Lead Pastor at the Church at Severn Run, on April 18, 2021 talked to us about us leaving our seats to walk where Jesus walked, to serve our community like Jesus did during His time on earth.

It is timely in terms of relighting that fire within us to be saved servants – people who intentionally serve others who need help. Since the pandemic began we’ve adopted a new normal, going thru the motions, checking the boxes and falling into new routines.

For myself, since the pandemic began, I started looking around for ways I could help others, by giving more of my time and in other ways. I’ve felt moved more and more like I was called to work in certain areas to help others, so I’ve been working on that.

I think many of us may feel like we have had a similar calling throughout this pandemic season.  If you have had such a call, it is important to leave your respective seats so that we can answer His call.

In Matthew 9:37, Jesus tell His disciples that, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” We definitely do not want to be sitting the game out on the sidelines while we still have time to play.

In the book of Jonah 1, Jonah famously decided against standing up and ran away from the calling God had for him. He ended up on a ship and put everyone around him in danger until he ended up in the belly of a whale. In New Testament times we thankfully will not be subject to punishment under the law because of God’s grace, however, who knows how many can be saved if we leave our seats and stand up to do what God has called us to do.

In Exodus 5:1, Moses and Aaron left their comfortable lives and went to Pharaoh telling him, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness.’” Pharoah, of course, refused and God used this as an opportunity to show His power. By the time the Israelites left Egypt, they were well-compensated for their time – blessed beyond their wildest expectations and freed from bondage.

I ask each and everyone of you to search your hearts and see what God is asking of you to stand up and work on. It could free someone who is captive to sin, it could bless someone who needs a helping hand. It could feed a child, or provide shelter for a homeless person.

We would do well to remember the parables Jesus told us in Matthew 25, and pay special attention to verses 37 thru 40. If you do it for someone else, you are doing it for the King, our Lord & Savior.

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

It’s time we all stood up and left our seats.

Stay blessed.

Click here to sign up for a service opportunity on the next Leave Your Seat Sunday.

CT