Hi Friends,
Once we have received Salvation, once we have begun the process of Sanctification, what’s left? Listen to this verse:
“for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;” Eph 4:12 NASB
Love one another. This is the last command Jesus left His disciples, including you and me, of course. So HOW do we love one another? Do we see someone in need and just smile or hug them, tell them we love them and walk away? NO! We serve them. We actively, on purpose, pay attention to the needs of those around us then we do something about those needs. The first thing we do is pray. We ask God for guidance as to what will truly be a blessing to them. Second thing we do is…something. We physically meet those needs in whatever way God moves us to meet them. That may mean just sitting with someone and listening to their heartache. That may be offering to drive someone to the airport. That may mean paying for someone’s groceries. That may mean any countless number of things, but if we are not listening for this Call to Service, what good does our Salvation and Sanctification do?
Serve one another. Think of the Life of Jesus while He walked this world. He did not make a ten point presentation of how He was going to love humans. He simply acted in love towards everyone…even when He was tossing the Temple tables over. Jesus sought whatever was best for each person He encountered. Sometimes that meant getting real about sin and its deadliness. Sometimes that meant touching a leper that no one else would even come near. Sometimes that meant performing miracles as He healed, multiplied bread & fish or calmed the storms to protect His followers. Jesus simply served everyone that the Father placed before Him by displaying the Father within Him. That is the whole point to transformation, my Friends. That is the whole point to Life itself, to display God’s Love and Goodness and Justice and Holiness and…to be who we were always meant to be, children of God made in the Image of God. Sometimes this means overcoming awkwardness and telling your family how deadly sin is, but that there is Salvation waiting for them in Christ. Sometimes that means touching the heart of people no one else wants to associate with. Sometimes that means being the miracle someone else needs as we lead them to healing of past trauma, multiplying their talents by encouraging them to keep developing them, or calming the storms that rage within someone by simply speaking truth in love into their lives. Whatever God calls you to DO in this Call of Serve, I promise you, you will be more blessed because you answered God, trusted Him and obeyed.
Be God’s loving hands and feet. As the beautiful verse above says, God gives us gifts so that we can service one another in real and practical ways. It not only blesses those in need, but it builds up the body of Christ, making the Church what it was always meant to be, a door through which Jesus can, once again, walk this earth. It is the way to make God’s real Presence known in this broken and hurting world. When we choose to help others, we are displaying this Salvation and growth within us to those around us. God is seen because it is His Image we are reflecting. “But what if I help someone and they are not thankful?” you might think. Ultimately, we are not serving them. We are serving God, and He is always thankful. Take the risk. Love one another by serving one another and being God’s loving hands and feet. Every time I do, my life takes on a deeper meaning and a more fulfilling light. Do you want that too? Then won’t you join me?
Until we meet again, keep lifting your eyes to God, He’s closer than you think.
<>< Peace, Diane
