The Greatest Serve with Unconditional Love!

 Jesus reminds us that the greatest serve. The question develops on how does Jesus expect us to serve? What are the methods of service that Jesus teaches His disciples? What methods are God's expectation in serving in His kingdom?

The greatest in the kingdom of God serve by methods of love, endurance, persistence, and expectation.

Consider Luke 22, verse 26 where Jesus says, “The greatest among you should be like the youngest.” Jesus says that we are to serve like the youngest...how does the youngest of children serve...unconditionally loving those around them. A servant that desires to be the greatest, will serve unconditionally. This person will not be driven to serve because they love praise of service...but will serve with love and never expect to be praised in return. Just like a young child will love those around him or her.

This is a picture of our youngest, Nathan. He is a bundle of love. You just have to kiss those big chubby checks. All babies are made to love and be loved. Jesus says we are to be like the youngest and love unconditionally. Believers in Jesus are the ones that reach out and serve in love...unconditionally.

Just a few weeks ago, we celebrated the 40^th anniversary of the Martin Luther King Jr's, “I have a Dream” speech. Dr. King believed anyone can serve...he said, “"Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love." I could not agree more!

Serving with love is understanding that serving is not about the “me,” serving with love is about serving the “THEM.”

Let me ask you....do you serve with unconditional love?

You know I love ya, Don

What are you devoted to?

"They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." - Acts 2:42

What are you devoted to? It is a a good question? I know I am devoted to God. I am devoted to my wife. I am devoted to my children. I am also devoted to living and I fight anything that hinders living. I am devoted to not being sick. I am devoted to a great deal more than I am probably willing to admit. 

Can you imagine a life without devotion? No commitment, no follow-through, no grounding in what really matters. Maybe that’s how you live – losing your center in the face of compelling people and situations, not taking the time to reflect on what is important to you. You might be a person that is blown about by the wind.

So my question remains: What are you devoted to?

As I reflect on what it is to not be devoted, I discover that I love devotion. When you are devoted to something, your life is transformed. You begin orienting your activities toward what you really want. Doubt and confusion diminish, as you always have a benchmark to refer to. People and circumstances that no longer fit fall away. Devotion is not for sissies. It takes a surrender of your personal wants and desires into something that holds greater meaning for you. It oozes passion and longing. You might even say that you form a love affair with whatever you are devoted to. You show commitment, dedication, loyalty, reverence, and sincerity.

I recall a teaching many years ago that transformed my attitude towards devotion and being devoted. It was: "The next time you have breakfast and have bacon and eggs, you can know the difference between contributing and devotion. The Chicken contributed to your breakfast. The Pig was devoted to your breakfast." It is a truth that transforms my attitude and my action. I want to be one that is willing to give my life for that which I am devoted.

Join me in being totally devoted...I am devoted to God, to my wife, to my children, to God's Kingdom, and to living a transformational life...I want to be known that I am totally devoted to you as well. So, what are you devoted to?

 You know I love ya, Don

Willing to serve...or living a life of soft serve?

"If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles." Matthew 5:41

Service begins in your mind! Listen: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus who...made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant" (Php 2:5-7 NKJV). Are you into reputation building, or serving others? You can't do both. God is always more interested in your attitude than your achievements. King Amaziah lost God's favor because: "He did what was right in the sight of the Lord, yet not with a true heart" (2Ch 25:2 NRSV). True servants have certain attitudes

True servants focus on others, not themselves! Real humility is not thinking less of yourself - but thinking of yourself less. A lot of what we do is just self-serving. We serve to be admired or to achieve our own goals. Some of what we do is manipulation, not ministry; we're really thinking about ourselves and how noble and wonderful we are. We even use serving as a bargaining tool: "God, I'll do this for You, if You'll do that for me." True servants don't use God for their purposes, they let God use them for His.

Self-forgetfulness is a daily struggle, a lesson we must relearn over and over again. You can measure your servant's heart, by how you respond when others treat you like a servant! How do you react when you feel taken for granted, bossed around or treated as an inferior? Jesus said: "If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life" (Mt 5:41 The Message).

We choose to serve thus we choose to have an attitude that intentionally thinks of others before thinking of our self. It is a question of having a heart that is willing to serve or having an attitude that is always looking for soft serve.

You know I love ya,
Don