May’s Awakening Hearts Focus: Serving & Volunteering
Jesus is the perfect example of service towards others. He came to the world and rather than be served by others he himself served others with kindness and humility. From healing those who were sick or possessed and washing the disciple’s feet to dying a gruesome death on the cross, Jesus shows us what real love and the heart of a servant truly looks like.
Serving one another like Christ served involves treating others with honor and respect. Romans 12 tells us to “be devoted to one another in love.” Our actions and service should be a reflection of Christ and how he loves.
May 5: Service in Your Family
Imagine if everyone had Christ’s thought of “coming not to be served but to serve.” (Mark 10:45) Imagine in families if there were arguments between spouses or parents and children with people insisting they serve and not be served. So many of our arguments start the other way, insisting that we are serving too much and want to be served more. Imagine if everyone had a conscience of service to others, starting with their own families.
Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.
May 12: Service in Your Neighborhood
There is a great study on RightNow Media called The Art of Neighboring. In this four-session series based on their book The Art of Neighboring, Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon help us focus on the people within our neighborhood and learn what it means to be a good neighbor. They discuss the importance of pushing through the uncomfortable feelings that come with communicating, investing in, and caring for the people who live near us. What would our communities look like if we took Jesus’s command to love our neighbors as ourselves seriously? Email Rhonda Betteridge (rbetteridge@sllcs.org) if you need to set up your free RightNow Media account.
But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
May 19: Service in Your Church
According to the Bible, every Christian has been given at least one spiritual gift to use in service to the body of Christ. “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” (1 Peter 4:10–11).
An important step in discovering how to serve is to discover your spiritual gift which is best done through getting involved. Looking for a place to serve at St. Luke’s? Check out the church website for a small list of opportunities.
So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
May 26. Service in your community.
There are many local organizations that could benefit from your service. Check out the St. Luke’s website for some opportunities. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
