Serve Their Needs - by Pastor Sherrie Hittler
date posted: Sep 1, 2010
Are you aware of the universal law of reciprocity: you’re likely to receive back the very behavior you offer? The Bible says it this way: “For whatever a man sows he will also reap” (Galations 6:7).
We tend to return the very behavior we receive from people. We reciprocate, for better or worse. We ‘get this’ as Christ-followers; we understand.
The bigger concern is that we cannot and should not be in the business of serving people just to get something back from them. We serve others out of love for God, not as a tactic to get them to hear the message of God’s love.
This is a really fine line to walk. As I serve others, knowing that it can increase my influence with them, I need to do so with a commitment to keeping my heart pure before God.
How pure are your heart motives these days?
Connect Through Similarity - By Pastor Sherrie Hittler
date posted: Aug 26, 2010
“Similarity breeds relationship, (healthy) relationship breeds trust, and trust ultimately
breeds influence.”
The incarnation is perhaps the best example of the similarity principle. Jesus was
certainly different from those of his day, but He had many similarities from which He
influenced and led.
How well are we following Jesus’ example? Connecting to sojourners through similarity
usually entails relationship-building; we must find our commonality before we share the
biggest difference – the presence of Jesus as our Savior and Lord.
Do you need to take time to better develop the connection or similarity between you and
the person with whom you would like to influence for Jesus?
Oh,—let’s remember a corollary to this principle: the similarity that is my connecting
point must be one that glorifies God; one that reflects who He is and what He is doing in
my life.