These past two weeks, we have been looking at service. I see two kinds of service: one inward and one outward. Both honor Jesus. Inward service is when we serve at the church, such as the kitchen crew, brew crew, hospitality team, and ready, set, and go team. All these service areas are vital to the function of the Sunday morning experience. Outward service is when we serve outside the church’s walls, serving those who are hurting.
Serving can be one of the most rewarding things we can do as Christians. I find both types of service are needed for a healthy church. Inward service makes the wheels of the church happen, but outward service allows our “Salt & Light” to be known. Jesus came to save the lost, and that mission requires us to go outside the church’s walls and make Him known.
With this kind of service, you can expect joy, fulfillment, difficulty, friendships, and criticism. If you find yourself effectively serving outwardly, you will find those who will find fault with what you are doing. John 15 says, “If the world hates you, know that it had hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”
Many years ago, Carah and I ran the Merry Mathas, providing meals for those inside the church dealing with cancer or welcoming a new baby. However, we also focused on those in our community who were hurting or in crisis. Bringing food to people outside the church with no strings attached is a powerful way to display Christ’s love.
One particular meal service was to a beautiful soul at the church battling cancer. This lady was a caterer who loved to do food for others and often blessed many people with a full-catered meal. Now, she was sick and needed us to bless her. So we set up the plan and called those on our team (long before Meal Train) to arrange meals for her chemo journey.
Not long into the process, a lady at church became angry that we were helping a lady who caters. At the time, this totally threw Carah and me for a loop. So many questions went through our minds. Why does her vocation eliminate her from receiving food? Does this lady understand she is fighting cancer? Why are we being targeted by this hostility? Then, we both remembered how often Jesus received hostility and how sinless He was.
In the end, we received a fantastic gift. We built an extraordinary friendship with this sick woman that is truly eternal. We did life and death with her. I got to pray with her and held her hand during the last hours of her life, and when I came into her presence, she recognized and greeted me even though she was barely conscious from her body shutting down. I literally have tears in my eyes this morning as I type this for two reasons. 1. What a powerful time of service it was. 2. How much I miss Tamara and long to have her greet me in heaven.
Service has done more in my discipleship journey than all the scripture and books I have read. Being obedient to God’s Word has absolute power and blessings. I hope the Lord will bless each of you with the divine power that service brings us when we take our eyes off ourselves and put them on the Cross, especially those hurting outside and inside the church. I know firsthand that serving can be a painful blessing, but most times, it is just a blessing!
Tonight at 6 PM is the Well, and I pray you will come and get filled by the only one who can give us rest. Sunday is Communion, and I pray you will search your heart and come before the Lord as we remember what Jesus did on that Cross.
In Him,
Pastor Chris