April 23
This Service Thing
For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life....
Matthew 20:28 (NLT)
I was previewing a DVD I wanted to show my small group as we investigate and discuss this spiritual discipline of servanthood. I didn’t expect to hear what I did and I came under conviction.
John Ortberg was telling a small group of people some of the benefits of servanthood. The primary one? Humility. If we are to serve, truly serve in the spirit of Christ, we will become humble. True service, it seems, excludes pride.
He went on to explain there are simple acts of service we never consider, small acts that can fill our day. Opportunities, I must admit, I have missed or sadly neglected. Ortberg quotes Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the great German pastor, teacher and theologian. Bonhoeffer pointed out the potential service we can render in the daily routine of life.
One was the ministry of the mundane. Ortberg tied this to a trip to the grocery store and doing simple tedious things for the good of others. I immediately thought of all that laundry my wife does. How much fun is that? I think it qualifies for the ministry of the mundane, don’t you? And then, ouch, he pointed out the ministry of interruption—allowing others to interrupt our day without losing our cool—showing love and not offense or impatience. This one pierced my heart, but now I better understand. If Jesus could live and serve this way, I can too. And then there was the ministry of holding your tongue. No description needed on this one!
Simple service, but more: transforming service. For when I do these small things well, I become smaller and He becomes greater in my life. And my life will begin to reflect His life—one of serving others, one of giving it for Him.
Lord, I know I need to be a better servant. Help me get my eyes off of me. Help me to serve even as Jesus did. Amen.
This Service Thing
For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life....
Matthew 20:28 (NLT)
I was previewing a DVD I wanted to show my small group as we investigate and discuss this spiritual discipline of servanthood. I didn’t expect to hear what I did and I came under conviction.
John Ortberg was telling a small group of people some of the benefits of servanthood. The primary one? Humility. If we are to serve, truly serve in the spirit of Christ, we will become humble. True service, it seems, excludes pride.
He went on to explain there are simple acts of service we never consider, small acts that can fill our day. Opportunities, I must admit, I have missed or sadly neglected. Ortberg quotes Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the great German pastor, teacher and theologian. Bonhoeffer pointed out the potential service we can render in the daily routine of life.
One was the ministry of the mundane. Ortberg tied this to a trip to the grocery store and doing simple tedious things for the good of others. I immediately thought of all that laundry my wife does. How much fun is that? I think it qualifies for the ministry of the mundane, don’t you? And then, ouch, he pointed out the ministry of interruption—allowing others to interrupt our day without losing our cool—showing love and not offense or impatience. This one pierced my heart, but now I better understand. If Jesus could live and serve this way, I can too. And then there was the ministry of holding your tongue. No description needed on this one!
Simple service, but more: transforming service. For when I do these small things well, I become smaller and He becomes greater in my life. And my life will begin to reflect His life—one of serving others, one of giving it for Him.
Lord, I know I need to be a better servant. Help me get my eyes off of me. Help me to serve even as Jesus did. Amen.
posted by Craig Soderquist at 8:51 AM
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