Be of Service

Image by DarkWorkX from Pixabay

May our lives be a “yes” to God’s all-inclusive loving plan.

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Listen to my song “Pour Me Out” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

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2 Timothy 4:6

For I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand.

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St. Paul had come a long way from when he was known as Saul.

He had been one of the fiercest persecutors of Christians, leading them in chains to imprisonment and even to their deaths.

He actually believed he was doing God’s work!

But after some type of mystical encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus, Saul’s life took a radical turn.

He would later become known as Paul, one of the most zealous proclaimers of Christianity.

Paul realized that his life was not about amassing more, but in self-emptying.

Speaking of Jesus, Paul said: “Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself” (Philippians 2:6-7).

It was in letting go of his ego’s desires, dying to himself, that his true self would emerge.

As Jesus said, “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39).

Paul followed Jesus on this self-emptying path knowing that he would be transformed in the process.

As he put it, “I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:19-20).

This new way of life led Paul to see that all divisions were delusions.

All people were equally loved by God.

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).

When Paul saw that his execution was near, he was able to compare his life to a libation – a drink poured out as an offering to God.

May we all offer our lives in the service of love, justice and God’s creative plan.

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Listen to the song of the day “Pour Me Out” on the Give Praise and Thanks album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Remember: God loves you!

About billtonnis

Child of God, Pastoral Minister, Chaplain, Music Minister, Jail Minister, singer-songwriter, author, activist, former radio news anchor, imperfect follower of Jesus inspired by God's unconditional love, proud uncle... what else is there?
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