Am I Properly Dressed?
This morning I was led to listen to a podcast. This podcast is done on SoundCloud and the title of the podcast is Encouraging Your Spirit. The title of this particular episode really caught my attention-Servanthood in times of Crisis. The podcast is done by one of my friends who I once had the pleasure of serving with, both as a church Trustee and on the praise and worship team. In this particular episode, Overseer Chris Wiley gives an example of a military commander. During times of peace, the commander wears a particular uniform, but in times of war, there has to be a changing of the garments. What would the commander of an army look like wearing his or her army service uniform during combat? It would not be appropriate for the occasion.
The same is true with us. The bible tells us in Proverbs 31:25 that a woman of God is “clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. Who am I speaking to today other than myself? What dress does God require of us during this time of uncertainty and mass fear. During this time of a global pandemic, God requires us to be properly dressed. In Colossians 3:12 (for my New Testament friends) it reads, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
Let me say this to you, and I pray you hear me well. If you have on your combat uniform right now, please take it off. This is a storm we are in, not a war we are battling. Romans 15:4 says, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might find hope.” Psalm 91:2 and 3 says, “I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. Surely He will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.”
I find comfort in this. God is sheltering us through this storm. I know the storm clouds are hanging densely above us and so many people I know have been directly impacted-but I am convinced that we must stand firm during this storm. We are not to dress for combat, we are to put on our army’s service uniform. In the podcast, Chris tells us that as leaders, we are to do a couple of things and these things require us to be properly dressed. Chris tells us that as servant leaders - which I am convinced you are if you are reading this; we are to make ourselves accessible to those who are relying on our strength! There are so many weak amongst us and it is our strength that will get them (and us) through this storm! My God! The second thing that Chris tells us is posed as a question; “What can I do that will mean so much?”
If you have felt God calling you into ministry-no matter what that ministry is, this is the time to serve. Perhaps your calling is to teach (like mine) or to give, or to serve, or to be an Evangelist, or a preacher…whatever it is, this may be a great time to exercise your faith and your calling. Many of us have either seen or heard of the many musical artists who are using their gifts to keep us entertained. They are using social media to give us free concerts from home. This is the time for us to put on the proper dress and show up for service! This is the time to utilize our gifts for the benefit of the Kingdom.
Today, as I write this otherwise undated post, it is April 4, 2020. On this day in 1928, the voice of so many of us was born. So, this feels like a great way to end this post - As we get dressed for service, let me end with a quote that was spoken by Maya Angelou; “Every storm runs out of rain.”
Amen.