{"id":8278,"date":"2024-04-08T18:14:40","date_gmt":"2024-04-08T23:14:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/?page_id=8278"},"modified":"2024-04-08T18:27:52","modified_gmt":"2024-04-08T23:27:52","slug":"2024-spring-essc-spiritualgrowth-3-ia-1","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh_cn\/2024-spring-essc-spiritualgrowth-3-ia-1\/","title":{"rendered":"\u7075\u6027\u6210\u957f 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"8278\" class=\"elementor elementor-8278\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-15e4669a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"15e4669a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5de9de47\" data-id=\"5de9de47\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-74955d99 elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"74955d99\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\"><div class=\"trp_language_switcher_shortcode\">\n<div class=\"trp-language-switcher trp-language-switcher-container\" data-no-translation >\n    <div class=\"trp-ls-shortcode-current-language\">\n        <a href=\"#\" class=\"trp-ls-shortcode-disabled-language trp-ls-disabled-language\" title=\"\u7b80\u4f53\u4e2d\u6587\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault()\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"trp-flag-image\" src=\"\/wp-content\/plugins\/translatepress-multilingual\/assets\/images\/flags\/zh_CN.png\" width=\"18\" height=\"12\" alt=\"zh_CN\" title=\"\u7b80\u4f53\u4e2d\u6587\"> \u7b80\u4f53\u4e2d\u6587\t\t<\/a>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"trp-ls-shortcode-language\">\n                <a href=\"#\" class=\"trp-ls-shortcode-disabled-language trp-ls-disabled-language\"  title=\"\u7b80\u4f53\u4e2d\u6587\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault()\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"trp-flag-image\" src=\"\/wp-content\/plugins\/translatepress-multilingual\/assets\/images\/flags\/zh_CN.png\" width=\"18\" height=\"12\" alt=\"zh_CN\" title=\"\u7b80\u4f53\u4e2d\u6587\"> \u7b80\u4f53\u4e2d\u6587\t\t<\/a>\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh_cn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8278#TRPLINKPROCESSED\" title=\"English\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"trp-flag-image\" src=\"\/wp-content\/plugins\/translatepress-multilingual\/assets\/images\/flags\/en_US.png\" width=\"18\" height=\"12\" alt=\"en_US\" title=\"English\"> English        <\/a>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh_cn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8278#TRPLINKPROCESSED\" title=\"\u7e41\u9ad4\u4e2d\u6587\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"trp-flag-image\" src=\"\/wp-content\/plugins\/translatepress-multilingual\/assets\/images\/flags\/zh_TW.png\" width=\"18\" height=\"12\" alt=\"zh_TW\" title=\"\u7e41\u9ad4\u4e2d\u6587\"> \u7e41\u9ad4\u4e2d\u6587        <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <script type=\"application\/javascript\">\n        \/\/ need to have the same with set from JS on both divs. Otherwise it can push stuff around in HTML\n        var trp_ls_shortcodes = document.querySelectorAll('.trp_language_switcher_shortcode .trp-language-switcher');\n        if ( trp_ls_shortcodes.length > 0) {\n            \/\/ get the last language switcher added\n            var trp_el = trp_ls_shortcodes[trp_ls_shortcodes.length - 1];\n\n            var trp_shortcode_language_item = trp_el.querySelector( '.trp-ls-shortcode-language' )\n            \/\/ set width\n            var trp_ls_shortcode_width                                               = trp_shortcode_language_item.offsetWidth + 16;\n            trp_shortcode_language_item.style.width                                  = trp_ls_shortcode_width + 'px';\n            trp_el.querySelector( '.trp-ls-shortcode-current-language' ).style.width = trp_ls_shortcode_width + 'px';\n\n            \/\/ We're putting this on display: none after we have its width.\n            trp_shortcode_language_item.style.display = 'none';\n        }\n    <\/script>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<br><br><br><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3f39ac7a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3f39ac7a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6fe8419a\" data-id=\"6fe8419a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-43f83550 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"43f83550\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2024S_SpiritualGrowth_9_IA_Content_1_EN.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" \/><\/p><h1>Making Time to Serve God<\/h1><p class=\"p2\">My days are packed with essentials\u2014eating, resting, and working, and then there are the extras like TV and the internet. The Bible, specifically in Ephesians 5:16, reminds me to make wise use of my time, dedicating it to God\u2019s service. This raises an important question: where does our time come from?<\/p><p class=\"p2\">According to Acts 17:26, our time is ordained by God. We\u2019re just managers of the moments He gives us. Take King Hezekiah in Isaiah 38: God extended his life, underscoring His sovereignty over our time. That makes me think\u2014am I aligning my time management with God\u2019s will?<\/p><p class=\"p2\">Colossians 3:2 challenges me to prioritize the eternal. Earthly matters vie for attention, but they pale in comparison to God\u2019s work. This heavenly focus shifts how I allocate time\u2014less for worldly achievements, more for serving God. Because whatever I do for Him endures (1 Corinthians 15:58).<\/p><p class=\"p2\">Real service requires wholeheartedness, which comes from a spirit of dedication. Romans 12:1 calls for living sacrifices\u2014devotion that goes beyond duty. Without this heart commitment, service risks being hollow or merely routine.<\/p><p class=\"p2\">Consider David. Although he wasn\u2019t chosen to build the temple, his passion didn\u2019t diminish (1 Chronicles 29). He gave from his personal wealth out of love for God. And then there\u2019s Mary of Bethany, who poured costly oil on Jesus, signaling deep devotion (Mark 14). These acts remind me that love for God isn\u2019t about obligation but about a willing heart.<\/p><p class=\"p2\">To love and serve God requires a full heart. Paul&#8217;s prayer in Ephesians 3 is for us to be filled to the brim with God\u2019s love. Such love is sacrificial, just as Christ&#8217;s love for us was, giving Himself up completely (Ephesians 5:2). That\u2019s the model I aim to follow\u2014unconditional and transcendent love.<\/p><p class=\"p2\">Yet, daily commitments often distract. I&#8217;m reminded of Paul\u2019s advice to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 16) about setting aside resources for God. It&#8217;s a strategy I need for my time too.<\/p><p class=\"p2\">Choosing how I live and work must also allow for God\u2019s service. Like the colt in Mark 11, I must be untied from worldly binds to be available for Jesus. It\u2019s about readiness to serve, not stubborn resistance.<\/p><p class=\"p4\">In essence, God\u2019s work doesn\u2019t hinge on me, but He delights in my eagerness to join Him. Jesus exemplified this by serving rather than being served (Mark 10:45). My prayer is that God&#8217;s love and Spirit will fill me, driving me to serve Him passionately and selflessly.<\/p><p class=\"p5\">We warmly invite you to come to the True Jesus Church\u2019s bi-annual Evangelical Service and Spiritual Convocation.\u00a0 See details below.<\/p><p class=\"p5\">18-21 April, 2024 Evangelical Service and Spiritual Convocation<\/p><p class=\"p5\">Thursday, 18 April, 2024 6:50PM to 8:10PM<br \/>Friday and Saturday, 19-20 April, 2024 9:00AM to 8:10PM<br \/>Sunday, 21 April, 2024 9:00AM to 1:00PM<br \/>Complimentary lunch and dinner will be served.<\/p><p class=\"p5\">Please find our church location below:<\/p><p><b>True Jesus Church<\/b><br \/><b>4N550 Church Road<br \/><\/b><b>Bensenville,\u00a0<abbr title=\"Illinois\">IL<\/abbr>\u00a060106<br \/><\/b><i aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/True+Jesus+Church+Chicago\/@41.945266,-87.9536702,18.39z\/data=!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x880fb39f5fbd433d:0x72d82c41e185bf3e!2s4+S+Church+Rd,+Bensenville,+IL+60106!3b1!8m2!3d41.9448745!4d-87.9534209!3m5!1s0x880fb3a1e4e2dd49:0xd44299b704de1192!8m2!3d41.9453743!4d-87.9533863!16s%2Fg%2F1tdn02z1?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>\u00a0Google Maps<\/b><\/a><\/p><p>For online streaming, please\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/service\/live-sabbath-service\/\">click here<\/a>.<\/p><p>For regular service hours, please\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/\">click here<\/a>.<b><\/b><\/p><p>Email us at\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:ilovejesus@tjc-chicago.org\">ilovejesus@tjc-chicago.org<\/a><\/p><div id=\"mttContainer\" class=\"notranslate\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\u00a0<\/div><div id=\"mttContainer\" class=\"notranslate\" style=\"transform: translate(251px, 189px);\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\u00a0<\/div><div id=\"mttContainer\" class=\"notranslate\" style=\"transform: translate(245px, 5px);\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\u00a0<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Making Time to Serve God My days are packed with essentials\u2014eating, resting, and working, and then there are the extras like TV and the internet. The Bible, specifically in Ephesians 5:16, reminds me to make wise use of my time, dedicating it to God\u2019s service. This raises an important question: where does our time come [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-8278","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-06 11:56:11","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":""},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh_cn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8278"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh_cn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh_cn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh_cn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh_cn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8278"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh_cn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8278\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8291,"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh_cn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8278\/revisions\/8291"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh_cn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8278"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}