{"id":361,"date":"2017-05-17T21:51:38","date_gmt":"2017-05-18T04:51:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lightrunner.org\/wp\/?p=361"},"modified":"2020-02-02T15:07:24","modified_gmt":"2020-02-02T23:07:24","slug":"027-work-for-others","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lightrunner.org\/wp\/027-work-for-others\/","title":{"rendered":"027 Work for Others"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"\"Yesterday I saw a short, inspiring North Face video<\/a> on YouTube that featured Enock Glidden, a paraplegic man who climbed El Capitan in Yosemite. My second cousin, Christian Cattell, was one of several volunteers who helped him. Christian made a noteworthy statement during an interview. He said, \u201cIt felt good to work so hard for someone else.\u201d That\u2019s so true. Imagine what this world would be like if we all had that attitude.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hudson Taylor, the pioneering missionary to China, who God used in a powerful way to start 125 schools and directly save over 18,000 people despite great opposition, shared a similar outlook as penned in a poem by Charles Meigs. I am reminded of it often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOthers, Lord, yes others. Let this my motto be, Help me to live for others, That I may live like Thee.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Truly this self-sacrifice comes from Jesus–God the Son. Jesus modeled it and he empowers anyone who follows him to do the same. Before the foundation of the world he planned with God the Father and God the Spirit that he would become a man and lay down his life to save others (1 Peter 1:20). Despite pain, rejection, betrayal, and abandonment he fulfilled this plan for the sake of others. In Hebrews 12:2-4 it says, \u201cFor the joy set before him he [Jesus] endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.\u201d That\u2019s how God works. He uses humble, obedient people who depend on him to have a great impact on others\u2014to save them. In the process, despite the hardship, he blesses and exalts his servants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God reminds us of the servant life we should live with two commands which Jesus affirmed while on earth, \u201cLove the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.\u2019 The second [commandment] is this: \u2018Love your neighbor as yourself.\u2019 There is no commandment greater than these\u201d (Mark 12:30-31).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not necessarily easy, but it\u2019s the right thing to do. Fortunately we are not alone to try to work it out by striving. God enables us to joyfully serve him and others as we rest and walk with him. That\u2019s my desire. What about you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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