The pains of service develop joy in Christ

Hello Shasta Barneys,

What a great week of posts! I have been deeply encouraged and blessed to read about what you all are learning and growing in. This week of "Sacrifice" has been both challenging and uplifting for me. I hope you that you are being challenged and pushed forward in your understanding of being a sacrificial Christ follower.

The devotion that stood out the most to me was Tuesday devotion on Galatians 4:19 - "My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you".

When I think about this scripture I think about all the work you will be doing this summer. You will serve continually throughout the day, pour your energy and attention into ministering to campers, and you will be daily surrendering yourself to God's ultimate will. All of this might in fact bring you pain. You could be pained through the hearing of others broken lives, pained through the challenge and growth Christ is doing in you, and pained through your desire to see camper's changed and renewed. Much like Paul in his letter, you will be going through" pains of childbirth until Christ is formed" in to those you serve. Our ultimate desire is to see Christ formed in one another. We are all striving to grow closer in relationship with Christ, and in doing so He begins to be formed in us. What a glorious thing! So we ache in groans and pains in order to witness the transformational forming of Christ in those precious campers. Christ has called you into a beautiful role this summer, and sometimes that role might produce pain and tears (all to the glory of God).

As you serve and come along side campers may they be changed by the Christ that is formed in you. I pray that we will all be patient and expectant as we struggle through the pain caused by this great hope; that Christ may be deeply formed into every camper that sets foot on our docks.

Christ, I pray that you would continue to grow and develop our relationships with you. I pray that day by day you become more definably formed in us. I pray for the lives of those we will serve this summer. May they encounter you in a mighty way, and be forever changed. Christ, speak to their hearts.

I pray that we would understand the important roles we’ve been given. I pray we accept the pains of service, sacrifice, and giving of ourselves. I pray that we will all be reminded that everything we do is about you and not ourselves. To your glory! Amen