This is part 8 of a 9-part series. View the entire series here.
God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God Himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to Him forever and ever! Amen. – 1 Peter 4:10-11
Introduction
“I’ll have an iced latte, large coffee with room, two caramel macchiatos, and a small hot chocolate, please.” The young woman pulls out her card and taps the machine. Before it beeps, the high school kid on the other side of the counter is whisked away to the back.
He quickly takes the order stickers from the printer and sticks them to cups. As he lines them up on the counter, the barista to his left begins to pull shots of espresso. Steam pours out from the machine as a third worker heats up milk and pours it over the hot chocolate mix. Within minutes, all the drinks are packed into drink trays.
The young woman glances up from her phone when her name is called. She thanks the staff and briskly walks out of the coffee shop without a second thought about the dance that had just taken place behind the counter to bring everything together.
One Body, One Purpose
We have been individually called to Christ, but we have not been called to individuality. There is no such thing as a “lone Christian” in God’s Kingdom. We are a community. A collective. A cohort of Jesus-following, people-loving, and God-honoring individuals all seeking to accomplish one mission together: to make disciples who bring glory to God.
God has called us to serve one another as part of this mission. When we extend help and care to others, we are being the hands and feet of Jesus. In Matthew 25, Jesus gives a picture of Judgment Day, when He will return and bring us into His eternal kingdom. Note what He says about the power of service:
“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed Me. I was thirsty, and you gave Me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited Me into your home. I was naked, and you gave Me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for Me. I was in prison, and you visited Me.’ Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see You hungry and feed You? Or thirsty and give You something to drink? Or a stranger and show You hospitality? Or naked and give You clothing? When did we ever see You sick or in prison and visit You?’ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these My brothers and sisters, you were doing it to Me!’” – Matthew 25:34-40 NLT
Service as a Discipline
Service isn’t only about meeting the needs of others. It’s about bringing glory to God. When we perform an act of love to someone in our lives, we’re doing so unto God as well. The discipline of service is not a moral resumé to bring attention to ourselves. It is an outpouring of gratitude—acknowledging all that God does to serve us, and in response turning around and doing the same for others who have been made in His image.
Seek the needs of others. Use your unique gifts to uniquely bless the people around you. Because when we show His love to others, we show our love for Him.
