A Serving Heart
Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
John 12:26
How do we feel when we have helped someone, to serve someone? Is it the way of the world to have a serving heart, or is it the way of God to have a serving heart? The above verse tells us the Father will honor the one who serves Christ therefore he must have created us with a serving heart. But how do we overcome our worldly nature and develop a heart that desires to serve?
Jesus, God in the flesh, lived a very humble life and became a servant to his own creation. 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! Jesus revealed the heart of God, and we are to be like Christ. Jesus tells us, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, (Matthew 20:26). What does it take to be humble and have a serving heart?
We cannot make ourselves a humble serving person, it’s God who changes us. When we accept Christ, he sends the Holy Spirit to live in us. The Spirit fills our soul with God’s love and this love grows as we reflect it to others. A heart filled with God’s love can become a humble serving heart. In addition to being filled with God’s love, we have a strong identity and self-worth in Christ. How can we have a humble serving heart if we are not secure in our identity? Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, but he was still God. With a heart filled with God’s love and secure in our God given identity, there is no task too small for us.
God is molding us to the likeness of his Son and we are to have the mind of Christ. Being a humble servant with a heart filled with God’s love, is the foundation of being Christ-like. We know we have a serving heart when we see through the eyes of Jesus and we feel content and fulfilled when we are serving. Serving and helping others is how we show we care, and we can minister to others if they know we care. Showing we care can take time and work, and often changes our schedules.
We serve the Lord by serving others. “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, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Serving the Lord means we serve others, showing them we care and we are a light for Christ. We serve with all or heart as doing it for Christ. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. (Colossians 3:23). We show our love for God through our faith to serve others.
Today, look for opportunities to serve others, showing God’s love. It may be as simple as showing kindness or it can involve time and work. Remember your serving the Lord and note the contentment you feel when you have helped someone. God blesses those that serve him.
Prayer: Lord, give me a truly serving heart, where helping others will be a joy. Thank you for your love that is changing my heart so I can have a serving heart filled with joy of serving. In Jesus name, Amen