Summary: Jesus is our great example of showing kindness in the face of evil.

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Luke 6:35 tells us “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.”

In life and ministry, we will encounter different people. There are VCPs (Very Challenging People). There are VNPs (Very Needy People). You might run into some VAPs (Very Antagonistic People).

Ministry is a high calling. We are called to “do good” with no expectation of earthly remuneration or recognition. Why do we do it? Why do we endure the misled, the mistaken and even those who seek to malign us? The Most High is our example. He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

Thank you for your love to all as you serve. Your reward will be great. Can you think of a time or a situation where you were a VCP or a VNP or even a VAP in someone else’s life or ministry? When I consider the challenges I have been to the lives of others, it gives me fuel to handle others with a greater measure of grace today.

Who do you need to love today, regardless of their challenge to your life and ministry? Can you be kind to the ungrateful today?

Summary: Your personal experiences as a volunteer - both good and bad - can be used to shape you as a leader today.

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Luke 6:31 says “And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.”

I was a volunteer for years before becoming a leader of volunteers. My experiences as a volunteer influenced how I lead volunteers. As a volunteer, I had positive experiences and less positive experiences. I had leaders who cared deeply for me as a person. Yet, I had leaders who blew me off and did not know me as a person. Our interactions were polite but only transactional. Our relationship was based on what I did for them and not who I was to them. Those latter experiences hurt.

Then I found myself as the leader. I now had a chance to treat volunteers the way I wished I had been treated. Those formerly painful memories became fuel. I got to retroactively right someone else’s leadership wrongs. I felt empowered and was filled with direction.

Has someone ever led you in a way that hurt you? I imagine yes. Has a leader ever made you feel like a widget and not a worthy co-laborer? Sadly, we have all felt used. Can you leverage the wrongs of others? Yes, you can. Can the ways others have poorly lead or are poorly leading you right now influence how you lead others today? Absolutely. Let the pains of the past be fuel for today.

Summary: In God’s grace he has given us gifts and abilities. Let us be fruitful with this grace he has given us.

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2 Corinthians 6:1 tells us “As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.” Grace is defined as unmerited favor. God has given us grace. God has not bestowed favor on us because of our great worthiness. His grace or favor is purely out of His great love.

One way God’s grace is seen is in the gifts and abilities He has given to us. Beyond this, He allows us to work in His Kingdom. He gave us gifts; that is favor. I could have been given none. God lets me work with Him; this is favor. I could have been sidelined.

This verse, however, urges us to be fruitful, lest God’s favor or grace was all for nothing. In His grace he gave us stuff. Will things be better because He gave me gifts? The term “in vain” means to go forth “without success or a result.” I want the grace given to me to produce much fruit. God gave us something. Let’s not waste it.

Are you being a fruitful worker? Are you laboring for Him out of love and gratitude for the grace He has given? Let us march forth today with a renewed commitment to make good on the grace He has given. What unique gifts has He given to you? How has His favor been shown, uniquely to you? You are a one-of-a-kind creation. May we never forget that God wants fruit from His investment.

Summary: If we want God’s strong support, it begins with cultivating a heart that is wholly and unconditionally His.

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2 Chronicles 16:9 tell us, “For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.”

God is looking for someone. His eyes are searching across the earth. He is looking for someone to strongly support. Out of a sea of people, God is on the lookout for someone whose heart is completely His. The “Upside Down Kingdom” values a committed heart more than a strong mind or back. If we want His strong support, it begins with cultivating a heart that is wholly and unconditionally His.

As the old hymn declares, “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it.” Having a heart that is completely His is an ongoing pursuit, a destination never reached. Hebrews 10:14 reads, “For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being perfected.” There is a state of being perfect while being perfected. From a positional standpoint, we are perfect. From a process standpoint, we are being made perfect.

Let not your heart be saddened, knowing your heart is far from completely His. Pause today, raise your hand and tell God your heart is His, perfectly and imperfectly His. Start today knowing that God’s eyes are searching; His strong support awaits you.

Summary: There is always something more we could be doing in ministry. But your ability to rest is in direct relationship to your trust in God’s ability to further his ministry.

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In Ecclesiastes 4:6 we read “One handful of rest is better than two fistfuls of labor and striving after the wind.” There is no end to the tasks our hands could find in ministry. There is always something more we think we could or even should do. Solomon’s word choice draws a stark contrast and juxtaposition in my heart: “One Handful” vs. “Two Fistfuls.”

I cherish my rest simply because I have learned the hard way. With youthful zeal, I pursued a never-ending list of good things, often to my demise. These days, I am quite content to have one handful of rest and the other hand filled with labor. Yet, so many ministry leaders injure themselves with “two fistfuls” of ministry busyness and activity.

Ministry is a long game, not a sprint. Just as the wise man stops to sharpen his ax, so a wise ministry leader knows the value of rest and Sabbath. Do you trust God? Sounds simplistic, doesn’t it? But your ability to rest is in direct relationship to your trust in God’s ability to further His ministry even while you sleep. This “Upside-Down Kingdom” understands the paradox of labor: He does more with my 6 days that I can do if I had 7 days. Can you pause and reaffirm that God cares more than you about His ministry?

Summary: Proverbs 11:25 says “The one who waters will himself be watered.” By pouring yourself out, God is able to refresh you with new water.

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Proverbs 11:25 says “The one who waters will himself be watered.” Ministry is a process of continually giving. Sometimes we feel insecure about pouring out, for fear of becoming empty. We can be blessing-hoarders. We don’t water others out of fear that my cup will become bone dry. Yet, God keeps His word.

Continuing to water others is a matter of faith. But which happens first: My giving or my refilling? Herein lies yet another lesson in the “Upside-Down Kingdom of God.” It all begins with letting the waters of refreshment flow from me. In faith, I water and then find God brings new waters to refresh my soul. I want water to flow into me, therefore, I allow water to leave me and bless another. I water and then I am watered.

God faithfully comes behind me with waters of refreshment. I have sought to refresh people and I eagerly anticipate God to refresh me. I have watered other people’s kids and am banking on God to water mine. I do not want to be a stagnant and stale holding tank of water; therefore, I begin by watering others. Every time I fill someone else’s cup with cool water, I find my water bucket is replenished. Who around you is parched? Who can you water today?

Summary: God’s kingdom has different equations. Giving of yourself, your treasure and your talent means you will overflow with plenty.

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Acts 20:35 says this “And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Do you remember the children’s book, “Counting Apples” with three cartoon animals balancing apples on their heads? This “pre-math” book for toddlers visually displays more or less apples and sing-song-rhymes. Soon our kids advanced to formal addition, subtraction and beyond. Yet, it was not until I was an adult that I learned “Kingdom Math.” Up to this point, giving apples meant I had less and getting apples meant I had more.

Yet this verse and others showcase a new math, a “Kingdom Math.” Solomon agrees and adds, “Give of the first of all you produce…so that your barns will overflow with plenty.” What an interesting if-then clause. Do you want “better?” Do you want “overflow?” Give some apples and see what the next pages hold in store. This is not just a saying or a simple colloquialism. This is the “Upside-Down Kingdom.” This Kingdom has different equations.

Today, give yourself, your treasure and your talents. Experience Kingdom Math at work.

Summary: Our giving does not leave us destitute but amply supplied. We can give cheerfully and with fervor and zeal.

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2 Corinthians 9:7-8 says “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”

Giving encompasses many things including time, treasure and talent. Paul encourages believers to sacrifice financially, which will result in them having less. There are “costs” to giving financially. Yet, God is the King of this “Upside-Down Kingdom” and abounds in resources. Our giving does not leave us destitute but amply supplied.

As a leader in ministry, we give a lot. We place our time, our toil and talents on His altar. There are “costs” to giving yourself to ministry. Those costs include sacrifices of family, freedoms and more. We, however, have a choice. We can be a cheerful giver or the alternative.

This is your one and only life. You will be in heaven one day and all the work will be done. Now is the time to work and labor cheerfully. He will not leave you destitute but amply supplied in areas far beyond your finances. Today is a choice. Give cheerfully.

Summary: We were endowed with gifts. However, the intent of the gift is not to bless us alone. The intent of the gift is to liberally use that gift to serve someone else.

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1 Peter 4:10 says “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” In the Upside-Down Kingdom of God, our gifts are for the giving. We were endowed with gifts. However, the intent of the gift is not to bless us alone. The intent of the gift is to liberally use that gift to serve someone else.

Do you have a gift? If you are a child of God, you certainly do. God has bestowed at least one spiritual gift to each of His children. His gifts are rather varied, though, aren’t they? It sure seems that some people have received a cornucopia of gifts, while others received fewer. The name of the game is to recognize the gifts you have and not fret about the ones you lack. Are you resentful of the gifts of others? Longing for gifts you don’t have is a futile waste. Regardless of the number or even quality of the gifts given, they all were given for one purpose: to serve others.

Thank you for using YOUR gifts. You received them from Him. You are using them for Him. First, do you know your gifts? Second, are there people around you who need your gift today? Third, can you spot someone else’s gift today and thank them for it?

Summary: Doing ministry according to the Upside Down is hard. Serving will cost us. It certainly cost Jesus His very life. Take a moment and examine what advantages you can provide to another through your limited position and authority.

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Mark 10:45 says “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus is the King of this “Upside-Down Kingdom”. Jesus held a high position. Though He was worshiped by angels from all eternity past, He took on human flesh and washed the feet of sinful humans. “Wait. You mean, the King of the Universe, washed feet? That sounds backwards.”

This is the way of the Upside Down. He is our example. The highest king took up the lowest towel. Any elevated position you hold in the Upside-Down Kingdom of God is given so you can make life better and easier for someone else. Do you see your position as an opportunity to help someone have a richer life experience? Or do you see your position as a justification for others to provide for your ease?

Doing ministry according to the Upside Down is hard. Serving will cost us. It certainly cost Jesus His very life. Take a moment and examine what advantages you can provide to another through your limited position and authority. You were granted your position and post to support those under you, not the reverse. How can you make life better for another today?