Volunteer

Volunteer:  1.  a person who offers him/herself for a service or undertaking.  2.  a person who performs a service willingly and without pay.

I was a volunteer last week.  In the cotton candy department at Vacation Bible School.  For four days.  Now this isn't something to take lightly.  I mean, it's cotton candy people!  This is serious business!  And so is volunteering.  I like #2 of the definition above:  a person who performs a service willingly and without pay.  We could also add "sacrificially" in there too.  Unless you are only thinking of yourself and all that cotton candy.  (I don't know who would do that??? ;)

I know we all can get into having too much on our plate.  I'm not saying get out there and do more.  But there is something about "performing a service willingly and without pay".  To "offer ourselves for a service or undertaking".   Think of how much would NOT get accomplished in life if it were not for volunteers.  They're everywhere!  Hospitals, libraries, nursing homes, etc., etc., etc.  You get the picture.

I see Jesus in this word "volunteer".  I know He was born to be the one to die for us, for our sins.  But couldn't He have just as well said, "Father, I'm not really feeling this whole dying for everyone's sins thing."  Couldn't He have lived for himself like so many of us do, and said, "Let them fend for themselves."  But He didn't.  He lived for the Father, followed the Father's will for His life and died, according to God's will.  He volunteered His life for us, that "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)   Seriously?!  Now that's a sacrificial volunteer.  He offered Himself "for a service or undertaking" and He did it "willingly".  I want my life to reflect a service that I do willingly and without pay.  I want my life to reflect the love of Jesus in every performance I do...willingly.

It just really hit home this past week about this word "volunteer".  Where is my attitude, am I showing the love of my Savior in all I say and do, what are my motives?  I have to keep myself in check and die to self daily.  Easy to say, hard stuff to live.  I am so thankful for the mercy extended to me over and over. (1 John 1:9)  

Until next time, happy kids, camping, and beyond.