Comments on: Where do I find it? (Nehemiah 1 follow up) http://www.cloften.com/?p=1226 He'd rather be funny than good! Fri, 29 Jan 2016 20:05:26 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Peter Freund http://www.cloften.com/?p=1226&cpage=1#comment-757 Peter Freund Mon, 17 Jan 2011 17:54:14 +0000 http://www.cloften.com/?p=1226#comment-757 Good post. Spiritual gifts play a central role in God's calling on each of us. We, as Christians, will already be gifted to play our part. I agree that serving is enjoyable if we are doing what we are called to do. Some people aren't well suited for some ministries (as you said in the sermon about homeless people and you not being as passionate about it as others). Strangely though, some of the greatest service to God is not enjoyable . I don't think Jesus enjoyed his service to humanity on the cross. It was unbearable suffering. But, maybe in a deeper sense Jesus was able to "enjoy" what he was doing in the sense since it is true that he delighted in sacrificing himself for us. How else could he pray that God would forgive those who were torturing him while he was being tortured ("Forgive them for they know not..."). On the other hand, Jesus tried pleaded with God in the garden in case there might be some other way to accomplish God's will. Maybe a better word is "fulfilling". Just some thoughts not meant to contradict your overall point, but to maybe dig a little deeper when thinking about enjoyment since my passion is digging deep. Christians sometimes don't want to do things unless they are enjoyable or fun. I remember someone in a Bible study once saying "Bible study is supposed to be fun". But, it isn't always fun. Sometimes studying the Bible is frustrating but worth it anyway. :) Good post. Spiritual gifts play a central role in God’s calling on each of us. We, as Christians, will already be gifted to play our part.

I agree that serving is enjoyable if we are doing what we are called to do. Some people aren’t well suited for some ministries (as you said in the sermon about homeless people and you not being as passionate about it as others). Strangely though, some of the greatest service to God is not enjoyable . I don’t think Jesus enjoyed his service to humanity on the cross. It was unbearable suffering. But, maybe in a deeper sense Jesus was able to “enjoy” what he was doing in the sense since it is true that he delighted in sacrificing himself for us. How else could he pray that God would forgive those who were torturing him while he was being tortured (”Forgive them for they know not…”). On the other hand, Jesus tried pleaded with God in the garden in case there might be some other way to accomplish God’s will. Maybe a better word is “fulfilling”.

Just some thoughts not meant to contradict your overall point, but to maybe dig a little deeper when thinking about enjoyment since my passion is digging deep. Christians sometimes don’t want to do things unless they are enjoyable or fun. I remember someone in a Bible study once saying “Bible study is supposed to be fun”. But, it isn’t always fun. Sometimes studying the Bible is frustrating but worth it anyway. :)

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