A Servant to All

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1 Corinthians 9:19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.

Paul speaks a lot in this chapter about forgoing his rights as an apostle. As one who is free in Christ, we come under no man's headship. However, in order to win people over to salvation, Paul has chosen to be a servant to all.

The Christmas season is always a humbling time for me. Each year, God humbles me more than the last. This year, my lesson of humility is coming from my involvement with the Youth Choir's ticket sales. There are so many times that I've made my protocol clear. I've made my system fair. Yet, there are still several people who step over my boundaries and expect me to serve them. It's so frustrating and humbling. For example, I set the deadline for pre-sale tickets to November 1st. However, people are still asking me to process tickets for them. The public is even calling me so they don't have to pay the online convenience fee. They think that just because they use the musical as their ministry, (that's why they are buying like 20 tickets) that they can use me to get the best seats and at the cheapest cost! It's so frustrating because I know that I should help them, but at the same time, I feel like they should help themselves. But what I need to focus on is that God is working on me. I can't keep looking at them and think about how far they need to grow. Besides, if I make my servant to all then I "might win more of them." And isn't that what God wants anyway? He says that He desires mercy and not sacrifice. So I need to be merciful towards these people and not feel like I'm sacrificing something.

Heavenly Father, please continue to change me from glory to glory. Forgive me, Lord, for sinning and for feeling entitled to good treatment. Lord, keep me humble and keep me a servant so that in the end, I will hear You say "Well done." Today, help me to not be frustrated. Keep my conscious clear. Prepare my heart. Thank You, Jesus, for being my role model. I love You. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.