Serving Our Community

A few times a year, Spring and Fall, our youth would help to keep the highway clean in front of the church. The number of youth have gone down considerably, but it still seems like a good way of serving our community. It is amazing to see how quickly things can be cleaned up when people put their mind to it. I’m not sure how much longer we will be able to do it, but I think it is important for people to see us serving outside of the church. Not only is it good for the community to see, but the youth that help get to see that it is not about what others can do for me, but a chance to give back...to show how much we appreciate what we have been given. The concept of servanthood is all through the Bible. First, there were servants in some of the households that were from “war plunder”, those that had been purchased, and even some that sold themselves to pay off debts. The Gospel today implied that a servant shouldn’t expect any special acknowledgment for doing what they were supposed to do. Then we get a comparison to faith in Luke 17:10, “So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'" The word for servant also means slave. Wouldn’t it be a little harsh for Christian’s to be known as slaves before God? We like to think of ourselves as friends filled with warm fuzzies. We must understand that we are not equals. We don’t bring anything to the table as if we were deserving. Communicating with God through prayer is a privilege that God gives us and we would be foolish not to use it often... to praise, lift requests, confess, and to seek wisdom and direction. Forgiveness again is by the grace of God. We are saved fully and completely by what God has already done for those who walk by faith. We are not just servants of God, but we are called to serve those around us. Romans 12 states, “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality." Father, Forgive us for the times we think of ourselves more highly than we ought. Help us to serve You and those around us. Amen