To serve others is to be intentional no matter where you are, by illustrating God's love in other's lives through the work, words and actions you provide so those individuals want to live, illustrating God's love, the same way.
Two pieces of scripture come to mind when I think about this concept. First is
1 Peter 4:10-11 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen
How does this speak to you in the way that you serve those around you? For me, I have seen God work in ways I could never relate to earthly matters, but his illustration of gifts has been phenomenal. This week, I get the ability to start working with a student who is Deaf and associate with his teachers so I can start to teach him American Sign Language with the skills I have. Not only will this help him in school, but it will provide a way for him to thoroughly communicate for the first time. Through the gift of ASL knowledge and my strong desire to glorify God, I am able to serve. This summer I also ran a bible study where I found that my style of study was one that touched the lives of several individuals who reside in New York. I have and will be consistently writing them letters, using the words God gave me, so I can serve them. What talents/gifts can you use to serve? Acknowledging that you have those gifts and are confident in using the abilities you possess, God can take you anywhere He needs you to be. By limited our minds and limiting the chances we take in serving Christ, the more we limit the possibilities Christ has in place for us, and ultimately we can be blinded from the plan He has intended for us to follow.
Second is Philippians 2:1-11 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
As Christians, we are called to serve. God has given us direction on how he sees our lives to be and wants us to follow those ways. By humbling oneself and responding to God's callings, we will do nothing but serve and glorify Him. So the question is, how do you make it known that you are serving God? The answer is directly related to the use of your words, actions and prayerful mindset to do everything in your power to illustrate that servant within you, because any of those aspects of your life could plant the seed of Christ in someone else. Make every step you take be a walk with Christ and don't just enjoy the scenery.
that's really great Mary Curran :)
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