Service

Matthew 20:25-28   “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant…. even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve.”

Do we have the heart of a servant?  Do we allow time in our schedules to serve? Do we make it a priority?  Do we desire to be served more or to serve more?  Question it !

Richard Foster has a whole chapter on “Service” in his book Celebration of Disciplines. This book along with the Bible and Boundaries by Townsend & Cloud have had a huge impact on my life. teaching me the understanding of God’s love for me and my love for myself.  Yes, I can love myself without thinking of myself as being more worthy than others. In fact, the more I have learned to love myself as God loves me, the more it has freed me up to love others.

And that love is my motivation for service. Now to make that a priority in my life as the example that Jesus gave me.                                                                                                                                                                          What Service looks like:

Hidden

Small things

Guarding Reputation of others

Being Served

Courtesy

Hospitality

Listening

Bearing Burdens

Sharing God’s Word

Just to name a few!

Some use of the word serve or service is used over 1100 times in the bible and is a key part of Jesus’ walk here on earth. So why is it that I wouldn’t make it a priority in my life?

Can I find excuses?  Can I use my fear of worthlessness or pride to keep me from serving? Absolutely!

“What you are is God’s gift to you, what you become is your gift to God.”― Hans Urs von Balthasar

So I pray, I listen and I obey God’s direction for me. 

Proverbs 27:19 (click here)

I leave you with this……………

If we want humility, in the book “A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life” by William Law, tells us….

-condescend to all the weaknesses and infirmities of your fellow creatures,

– cover their frailties,

-love their excellencies,

-encourage their virtues,

-relieve their wants,

-rejoice in their prosperities,

-compassionate their distress,

-receive their friendship,

-overlook their unkindness,

-forgive their malice,

-be a servant of servants, and condescend to do the lowest offices to the lowest of mankind.

Lord, help me hear Your voice in my heart and obey.  Amen