When It’s Time to Show Up

There is a drive inspired by The Lord on the inside of His children that He gives us when it’s needed. That drive is the ability to show up, to be representatives of Christ and His Kingdom in the midst of a fallen world. It’s the ability to set aside self in order to lift up those around us. Showing up, can encourage, uplift and change lives. If we are to be like Christ, we need to practice showing up for others as He has shown up, time and time again, for us. Showing up is a selfless act in which we put the needs of others before our own. I’m coming from a place of when it’s possible. An example would be: I have so many people whose lives I may speak into that are always in or doing something. I may not be able to make it to everything, but I can call, or text or encourage to let them know I’m thinking or praying for them, this is still a form of showing up. You’re telling that person that they are important to you. You’re keeping the lines of communication open. And people appreciate that.

Are you able to rise to the occasion and show up, even when it’s not popular? When the Lord is trying to get your attention, will you answer the call to finally show up? Our willingness to show up affects those who we show up for. I think about parents. What a mother and a Father wouldn’t do for their child when they have a need. What if your baby was hungry, and crying and you decided not to get up and fix a bottle? But there is an urgency that happens when you, as a parent, knows that there is a need. You will drop everything, walk through fire, to tend to the need of your child. You have made it a habit of showing up.

But what about all of the children that have been neglected or abandoned? In the family of Christ, there is no lack and when one has dropped the ball, God will raise up another to show up, when it’s time to show up.

Teachers are a perfect example of knowing when it’s time to show up. I had the pleasure of meeting a couple of teachers this weekend and the storys they have about how they have had to make the decision to show up in the lives of forgotten children is amazing. I mean from coming out of their own pockets to purchase school supplies to being councilor’s when the adults are missing in the lives of the children, long after the school bell rings. To being nurturers because the children haven’t known love at home. Teachers, are there, not for the money a lot of times, but because they have made up in their minds that they want to make a different and show up in the lives of these children. These children have had to face the most grueling of traumatic situations. But our heavenly Father gives teachers the grace to show up.

Christ showed up. When His back was against the wall and He was sentenced to death as an innocent man, He showed up. He showed up for all of us so that we could be redeemed and forgiven of our sins. I think about those who show up when they didn’t have to. I can imagine someone having a dream to become an English teacher. Going through school, getting that degree, being assigned to a school, only to find out before one verb is taught, before one prepositional phrase is identified, that teacher has to become a mother to the motherless, a friend to the child that has none, a preacher to the one who needs God, and a host of other things. It’s so easy to throw in the towel, but there is a reward for those of us who decide to show up.

What are the attributes needed to be the type of person to show up?

Colossians 3:12

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Compassion is needed to see a need and have the desire to want to fill it by the grace of God.
Kindness goes a long way. It’s no sense in helping someone if you are going to make them feel bad while helping.
Humility, it takes a selfless act of humility to want to put someone else’s needs above our own.
Gentleness, while showing up, make sure the people are handled with care.
And patience, sometimes when we are called to show up, things may not change right away. So we must exercise patience and know that if this is the assignment, God will grace me to see it through to the end of my part.

Titus 3:4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,

Titus 3:1-8

1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,

2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.

3At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.

(But look what happened when Jesus Christ showed up for us)

4But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,

5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,

7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

Hebrews 6:10

For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.

There is a reward for showing up. I feel led to encourage the encourager on today. The one who they always count on to show up. Your work isn’t in vain. If you feel yourself getting tired, ask Holy Spirit for greater grace to keep on going. It’s not in our strength, but it’s in His.

Romans 2:4

Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

It was His love and kindness that drew us to Him, and it will be the love and kindness you show to those who you show up for, that will draw them to Christ also.

Luke 6:35

"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 Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.

Listen, can you show up when they are being ungrateful? When they are slandering your name? When they forget to say “thank you”? There are some parents in the news right now that refuse to give up on their rebellious children. Even when they say all kinds of evil against them. Even though they have forgotten how their mothers and fathers took care of them for 16-17-18-19 years.

Philippians 2:4-5

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

It takes the character of Christ to show up. We are living in a time where so many people have been left to fend for themselves. You have homeless people living right beneath multi-million dollar condos. You have hungry people walking past restaurants with a surplus of food that they are required to throw away every night so they can right it off instead of giving it those who are hungry. You have children not being able to concentrate on learning in school because of the trauma they face at home. Who will show up for the likes of these? Who will step up when it’s time to show up? Who will emulate the attributes of Christ to this dying world?

Will you show up when you’re tired? Will you show up when you’ve had enough? Will you be the bridge between salvation for someone? Will you show up even when you have your own stuff to deal with? Can you put someone else’s need above your own? Like Christ has done for us? It’s time for the Kingdom to rise up, and show up.

Scribal Prophet L.A. Holts

#Ministry