Cheetos anyone? Bigger isn't always better (except in Mexico?)!


Who are the "Lord's elite?"

Last night, I was working my booth at the close of a missions conference when this subject was brought up.

I had the privilege of speaking twice over the last four or five days, to students, who were a vital part of this church wide event.

During these days, I've fellowshipped with 65 missionaries from around the world. I've had incredible conversations with them as well as staff, students and parents. God was doing a significant work in and among this body. I was honored to take part (We were even recognized for 'most countries ministered in').

The stories and testimonies I heard were God sized. I gained a pretty clear picture of how we are one body but different members, and each member vital.

As I worked my booth in the closing hour, a mother came to speak with me. She proceeded to tell me what she had told her daughter leading up to this event.

She told her daughter that she was going to meet the "Lord's Elite." In so doing, she needed to be respectful and learn as much as she could. And that maybe one day she could go and serve.

I immediately took issue with this statement, but understood her intent. I did not want to make her feel bad, so I tried to graciously receive her intended complement.

The dictionary defines "elite" as; "the choice or best of anything considered collectively, as of a group or class of persons."

Uhm, I need to be excused from that table of personnel! I don't belong.

When the disciples argued over who would sit at the right and left hands of the Father in Heaven, Jesus told them, (in Mk 10:43-45) "...instead whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be a slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Now, I understand that from the perspective of those who do not do ministry on a regular basis that we might be considered His elite.

My contention, however, is that the distance between those who serve and those who don't, is a gap measured by a yardstick of "surrender."

We, as believers, are ALL called. We are not all called to the same place at the same time. That means we certainly fill different functions and roles. There is room for each of us to serve. Thus, if the gap of surrender is closed, we are all His elite.

My role is not more important than your role. Each of our roles are significant. That doesn't mean that some stories won't be more dynamic than others, but that does not equate to 'more elite.'

Our culture is used to measuring size on a grand scale wrought with its worth or value being based on material wealth, power, fame, etc.

Many strive to be found here, but few if any of His elite will find themselves in bold face type on a list like this.

My concern is that if I consider myself worthy of such a title, I have just proved that I am not.

If servants are seeking to serve as Jesus did, the spotlight may come, but they never seek it. They are too busy trying to meet the needs of those who 'have not.'

The more surrendered you are, the more Christ-like you will be. Christ-like people serve. They don't seek the white hot heat and false bravado of a worldly spotlight.

The "Lord's Elite?"

Perhaps we'll see them seated to His right and left... in heaven.


dad

Please be in prayer for a revival I am preaching this weekend Apr 8-10?!