I want to take a minute and dive into something truly beautiful: serving others because of Jesus’ sacrificial service of us. This activity of service flows right out of our identity as servants of Jesus. Let’s take it back a step.
The heart of the gospel is love— God’s love, once experienced then moves us to reach out and care for those around us, just as we've been cared for ourselves.Extending grace, even as it’s been extended to us. Selflessly serving even as we have been served- by Jesus himself! When his love grips us- we serve.
As disciples of Jesus, the selfless servant king has served us, giving us an identity as a servant and empowering us to serve others. I know that’s a mouthful. But it’s true.
Don’t miss this though- When we serve others, we're not just doing random good deeds; we're embodying the very essence of Christ's love for the world. We're walking in His footsteps, extending grace and compassion to those we meet. It’s true when you serve others in your MC and it’s true when you are serving strangers. Whether at a neighborhood block party, a coffee shop, a Sunday gathering, or on the streets it’s for Jesus and because of Jesus
Yes there’s a cost, but there’s also a profound joy in serving out of the overflow we’ve received. A joy that comes from knowing we're living out the gospel story in tangible ways.
It's like we're co-creating with God, a sign that His kingdom is here with each act of kindness. And also serving as a preview or foretaste of his kingdom arriving in fullness one day
And let's not forget the transformative power of service. When we serve others, we're not just meeting their immediate needs; we're also planting seeds of hope and healing that can grow and flourish over time. We are not just changing others but also seeing our own hearts change. It’s a beautiful thing.
So Missio, let's lean into the beauty of the gospel and let it spark imaginative and compassionate ways for us to serve others with all our hearts and our hands. Let's together be the hands and feet of Christ in a world that desperately needs His love. Because when we serve others, we're not just making a difference in their lives—we're shining a light that points straight back to the beauty of the gospel and the King who served us so generously.