Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

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A couple of weeks ago, I was talking to one of my co-workers at Starbucks about The World Race. It wasn't an in depth conversation as she was busy throwing a breakfast sandwich in the oven while I was grabbing a pastry for a customer. During our brief interaction, she said something that has been replaying in my head ever since:
 

"I'd like to do something like that, but I'd want to do it out of the goodness of my heart. I wouldn't want to go thinking that Jesus is making me."

These two sentences had me asking myself some questions:
  1. Why am I going on The World Race?
  2. Am I portraying my decision to go as a demand from Jesus?
  3. Am I going out of the mere "goodness of my heart"?
After thinking and praying about these questions, God and I have answered them! For starters, I do not consider going on The World Race as a DEmand from Jesus. Instead, I think of it as a COMmand. You might not think there is much of a difference between a demand and command. Oh, but there is! In my mind, a demand is from someone who doesn't really deserve authority. A two year old might demand a snack from you even though he just had one. Do you give in? Of course not! Why? Because he is two and you are twenty six. That's why! He doesn't deserve having authority over you. I worked in Children's Ministry for five years, and unfortunately, in the real world, plenty of two year olds have undue authority over their parents. *Wink, wink.*

On the other hand, a command is from someone who deserves both respect and authority. You honor their command just because of who they are. For instance, I love my parents for all they have done for me. They can guarantee that I'll do whatever they ask. As an employee of Starbucks, I get one free pound of coffee, a free package of instant coffee, or a free tin of tea bags a week. It's called a "mark out". I usually get a pack of instant iced coffee for myself. However, this week, my Dad asked if I could get him a pound of French Roast as my mark out. Without hesitation, I got it for him. Did that mean I wouldn't get my iced coffee? Yes, sir. Did I care? Not at all because I had the opportunity to honor my Dad and fulfill his command. It took a little sacrifice, but it was well worth it. This is a pretty silly example, but it is the best that I could come up with at 7:30 AM.


And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone."
Mark 16:15 (NLT)
 
Jesus’ command is “Go.” I want to honor and respect His command and be obedient, not out of fear of what will happen if I don't, but because of the love and provision He has shown me and my family. He deserves having authority in my life just because He IS. 

Also, if I am going on The World Race out of the "goodness of MY heart", I will not be very effective. However, if I go out of the goodness of HIS heart, this journey will be nothing short of a success. As a human and a sinner, my heart can only be like God's and that is only a result of His unfailing love and mercy. I can't go on this Race thinking of what my heart can do for the least of these because frankly, it's not much. I can only go thinking about what His heart can do through me. I have to be like David, go after God's own heart, and become like Him as much as I possibly can.

 
But God said, "I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do." Acts 13:22 (NLT)