When I was in high school, I worked at a restaurant for about 4 weeks. I really didn’t like it because they primarily had me cleaning the parking lot and washing dishes. I thought I was a little better than that. I thought I was above that kind of work. But many jobs and careers have everything to do with serving other people. However, you’ve had that experience when you interacted with an employee at a restaurant or a retail store or an IT location where the person who was supposed to be serving you didn’t seem like they really wanted to do so…almost like it was above them to be waiting on you.
As followers of Christ, one of the main components of our new Jesus-like DNA is being a servant to those around us. To imitate Jesus in every way. The famous scene in John 13 and Luke 22 is when Jesus serves his disciples at the Last Supper in that upper room. With the weight of the world on his shoulders and knowing what he is about to endure literally hours away, he kneels down and washes his disciples feet.
See, serving others should be part of our every day life when we are trying to look like Jesus. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 23:11, “The greatest among you must be a servant.” Paul says reiterating Jesus’ thoughts in Galatians 5:13, “You have been called to live in freedom…but don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.”
So as people following the rabbi from Nazareth, let’s be intentional this week and the next and the next serving those around with a smile and compassion since we know how Jesus has loved on us. It could be simple like opening the door for someone, allowing someone to cut in line in that commute home from work, or buying someone’s Starbucks behind you in the drive through. It could be something you do to change the direction someone is living. Maybe you’ll find time to sit with someone and just allow them to talk and vent. You could become the go-to person who’s always ready to give great encouragement. Maybe it’s time to sit and talk about forgiveness with someone who has done you wrong in the past.
Our goal is to shine like Jesus, to make his story known and to do it in such a way, the world must take notice. This world doesn’t want to serve. It is pretty selfish. So let’s be radical. Let’s look like Jesus who was a servant and taught us to serve others. Jesus says in Matthew 25, “When you serve other people, you’re actually serving me.” Wow! Now that one sentence changes perspective. Blessings on your journey!