Two qualities any attempt to serve God and others requires: faithfulness and commitment. Our ideas of success are not the same as God's, God's definition includes consistency and persistence. God uses time to create, influence and mature us and ministry belongs to the Holy Spirit, not on a title or business card. Leadership is not something we claim, it is bestowed by the fruitful use of spiritual gifts. Real leaders rise to the top like cream separates from milk or silver from dross. The task given is just that, it is not a job, position, or man-given authority that makes a person a leader in God's economy. We can't camp out and rest in an identity that comes from work but only that which is given us to do today. We are more than the tasks we do, more than the means to make a living, even more than a title or identity based on our work. We are defined by what God says about us and how we yield to him in the present moment. The present moment being all we have to give God. If God is Lord of our life at all he is Lord of Right Now.
As Eugene Peterson says, life is the "long journey in the same direction". It is the narrow road and the cross we must bear. Whether we carry that cross trekking across the country or in short daily walks to work, school, through home, the local gym, through traffic or our community - Our faithfulness and commitment to place one foot in front of another in a forward effort is what shows your love for God and people. Not what you did yesterday or last year. Don't let yourself get stuck or stagnant. Don't be afraid or impatient. God who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it. He is working out all things for those who are called according to his purpose so that in him we might know the fullness of his riches.
Never give up, never quit. Keep on working until the end.
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