Serving: A servant's heart

The last letter in our acronym APES is S for SERVING. Our culture is all about leading, being large and in charge, being the boss, being at the top of the heap. Jesus said the world system and culture was the same in biblical times, but emphasized that SERVING others was the key to understanding His way, His ministry, and what he expected of His followers...

Matthew 20:25 You know that the rulers in the world lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. "It should not be this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you should be your servant, and whoever wishes to become first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man (Jesus) did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Paul pulls back the veil of eternity to magnify this amazing story of how the King of the Universe, willingly and purposefully took on a humble life of service...

Philippians 2:5 Have this attitude in yourselves that was also in Christ Jesus, who although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

We, in our freedom in Christ are exhorted to use that freedom for service...

Galatians 5:13 For you were called to freedom; only do not freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

But, what should we do, how do we serve. This starts with the main directive, the primary, making disciples...

Matthew 28:19-20 All authority has been given Me in heaven and on earth. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Beyond mentoring though, we are encouraged to meet social and physical needs in Jesus’ name...

Matthew 25:35-40 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Simple “random acts of kindness” are significant as well...

Matthew 10:42 “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.”

I’m excited about the opportunity to take our Fishersmen group to a new level, by adding the service component. Please pray that God’s Spirit will lead us in unity to know what He has for us in kingdom work in the community to make a difference.