Serving
others should be a way of life and the service render must comes from the heart
that is pure and honorable, not one that has hidden motives, deception or
monetary gain. The goal of service is to
put the needs of others first and to ensure the person being served knows that
they are loved and appreciated. Philippians
2:3 says, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.
Rather, in humility value others above yourselves."
Each service
we do must be in the name of Jesus. The Apostle
Paul said to the Christian in Colossians 3:17 "Let every
detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the
Master, Jesus...." (The Message) The service that we render isn't
stamped with our name on it, but rather, Jesus’ name. The desire is to demonstrate a servant’s
heart toward others and at the same time, do it as representatives of
Jesus. I challenge each of us to find one person who
needs help doing a task. Use this time
to help this person know about Jesus or be reminded that Jesus loves them
unconditionally. When you are finished,
pray with this person before you leave.
Serving
others models the life of Jesus. Jesus said, Matthew
20:28 "The Son of Man did not come to be
served, but to serve....” Jesus' idea of service was to go the extra miles,
give food to countless thousands who were hungry, to open the eyes of the blind
man for the first time, to help an old crippled man walk again, to teach a lady
at a well compassion, and to serve humanity by dying for our sins. Service comes in all shapes and sizes. However, no service goes unnoticed by God
when the heart is pure.
Service with
love demonstrates a godly heart. Galatians 5:13 "...Serve one
another in love." Love is colorblind. Love has no ethnicity. Love has no gender. Love has no hidden motives. Loves serves every individual without
discrimination. Our world is filled with
hate and violence. If there is ever a time
where the world needs people who will serve with no strings attached is now.
Serving
others with a smile breaks down barriers and puts those being served at ease.
The Apostle Peter said in his letter, 1 Peter 4:9-10 "Cheerfully share your home with
those who need a meal or a place to stay...use them well to serve one
another." God has
blessed us abundantly. We have cars to
drive, houses to live in, money to spend, vacation homes, clothes to wear, and
so much more. None of these things are
ours to keep. God has given them to us
to be good stewards over. What we do
with our things determines our priority in life.
Service to
God shows our allegiance to him.
Deuteronomy 6:13 "Deeply respect God, your God. Serve
and worship him exclusively."
We serve God in a variety of ways.
It may be that we open a door for the person behind us or we seek first
righteousness or we love our neighbors or we do to others, as we want them to
do to us. God serves us every day. He
provides. He heals. He loves.
He creates. He shares. He forgives.
He redeems. He gives. Knowing and loving God propel our service to
him.
This week, serve
others. Make someone’s day by an act of
unexpected service. Whatever service
that is done, do it with love, a smile, a godly heart and with the desire to
point the person being served to Jesus.
Remember, Be God
Controlled!
Brian
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