Service
OPENING PRAYER:
Dear Lord, please help us to be mindful that even though our acceptance of your sacrifice grants us eternity with you in Heaven, we have work to do here on earth. Help us to live to serve others, not so we can be saved, but because we are saved.
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.” Philippians 1:21-26 (NIV)
REFLECT:
Though I’m not proud to say I am a consumer of Twitter content, it is simply true that I scroll through Twitter at some point each day. Despite encountering a lot of content that neither enhances nor disrupts my well-being, there are times I come across a message that is meaningful. Recently I read a post where someone was questioning the drive to develop servant-leaders rather than simply being servants. As I pondered the message, I began to see the power in that simple thought. Our earthly goal as Christ-followers should be to serve others. Nothing more, nothing less.
Jesus paid the price for our sins by dying on the cross. Anyone who believes in his life, death and resurrection, and accepts his free gift of salvation will receive eternal life when their time here on earth ends. Nothing could possibly be greater than that. What’s important, however, is until that time we live as Jesus lived, which is to be a servant to all. There is no specific way any of us needs to serve. Simply receive each day with thankfulness and have open eyes for serving others.
APPLY:
Do you have a desire to serve but don’t know where to begin? The great thing is that no act of service is too small. Is there a way you can help a member of your family get through their day easier? Serve them. Help in a new or different way at work? Serve. Any time. Any place. A heart and mind tuned towards service is all it takes to make the world a better place, one step at a time.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Thank you Jesus for modeling servant-heartedness, and showing us what it is to love others. Thank you for the love and grace you have for each of us.
WORSHIP: