“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - Matthew 20: 26 - 28 (NIV)

“You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” - Galatians 5: 13 - 14 (NIV)

One of the most amazing things about God, is that He chose to send His Son to die for us and forgive our sins. One of the most amazing things about Jesus is that He chose this path, and during His ministry, He broke all the norms of what greatness looks like by serving others and calling His disciples to a life of service. Throughout the New Testament, we are called to think beyond ourselves and to serve others, just as Christ did, and to love our neighbor as ourselves and to help those in need in practical ways. The Christian life is a life of service.

Service changes us. When I was living in St. Paul, one time I went down to Mickey’s Diner, a greasy spoon where the forgotten and marginalized would often eat. Some were street people, some down on their luck but most had nothing to their name. I told them that I would come on Thanksgiving and pick up anyone who would like a home cooked meal. When the day came, there were twelve individuals. One a streetwalker, one a con man, most suffered from addictions and all were living on the margins.

You would not believe the piles of food they put on their plates and the interesting conversations that we listened to. They ate as if they had not eaten in a month. After the meal, we sang some hymns that they remembered from their childhoods. Tears rolled down cheeks and no one wanted to leave when the day was over. That was a day I will never forget. It marked me forever. Even writing about it brings tears to my eyes. When we act like Jesus and serve, we help another, but we are also changed in a big way. I realized again that all people are made in God’s image.

Service to others takes on many forms. We think beyond ourselves when we give words of encouragement, when we forgive others even when we think someone doesn’t deserve it, when we meet the need that someone has, whether financially or otherwise. Service includes using our spiritual gifts to bless others and to love those that the world ignores. It can be as simple as delivering a meal or helping someone pay for groceries. It can be as complicated as walking with someone through their grief or helping someone who is struggling financially. There is no life more exciting and fulfilling than to live life thinking beyond ourselves.

Thinking beyond ourselves is to think like Jesus. This week, ask yourself these questions every day. Who can I serve today? Who can I reach out to today? How can I be the voice, hands or feet of Jesus today? The more we serve others, the more we look like Jesus, who gave everything for us.

Father, I thank You for how You serve me every day. You forgave me and saved me from an eternity without You. Everyday You are with me, providing for my needs, forgiving my sin, guiding my steps. Help me to think beyond myself and to serve others as You did and still do today. Amen.