Matthew 20:28 “The Son of Man came not to
be ministered unto, but to minister.”
If I have a heart for humanity, and want to
serve and help others in practical ways, it is certainly a noble pursuit. As
believers, we are called to meet the needs of others through love and
generosity. We do this by sharing the blessings God has given us. (Matthew 25:35-40,
James 2:14-17, John 3:17) These actions are evidence of our faith. This kind of
service should be done with love and an absence of judgement. Jesus met people
exactly where they were on their journey, and loved them despite their prior
conduct or deeds. He is the author and example of love.
There are many people in the world who have
a different need, a spiritual one, for they do not yet know of the love, mercy,
and saving grace of Jesus. This, unfortunately, is often a much more difficult
area of service; I know it certainly has been for me. Sharing the truth of my
faith in a frequently hostile world often keeps me prayerful but silent. Sure,
it is more comfortable for me, but to what end? Chambers says, “So long as
there is a human being that does not know Jesus Christ, I am his debtor to
serve him until he does.” If I genuinely thought about what it meant for people
not to have the saving grace of Christ, wouldn’t I be driven to share that
truth with everyone, no matter the personal consequences? Wouldn’t I want to
tell everyone I have ever known or met, and especially those I hold most dear?
Alas, this is another area where trepidation and fear often rule the day. “Watch
and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but
the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41) Jesus knows this about me, just as he did with
His disciples; that is why I need to trust in Him and seek His strength, for I
cannot rely on my own.
Chambers says, “When we realize that Jesus
Christ has served us to the end of our meanness, our selfishness, and sin,
nothing that we meet with from others can exhaust out determination to serve
men for His sake.” This is unquestionably a sobering charge, and one that has
eternity hanging in the balance.
Dear Lord, help me to love out loud and be
bold for You.
Until the Whole World Hears - Casting Crowns
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