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Did you know we can still be me-centered when we serve others? We could be focused on the “thank you” more than the thanksgiving of serving with the hands and feet of Christ. Jesus stated, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28. Jesus served with mercy. He is our example. He showed us what is required in service to others— to give not only of yourself, but to have mercy guide our hearts while we serve.
On Christmas Day, Lead Pastor Steve Darr told a story about the Fourth Wiseman. His name is Artaban and he comes to us through “The Story of the Other Wise Man,” a book written by Henry Van Dyke and published in 1895. It is a beautiful story grounded in the teachings of Jesus. Through carols and Scripture, the story of the birth of Jesus the Messiah once again was told to remind us that He is God with Us.
Out of His holiness, God sets up the norm for acting, thinking, and living that is very different and separate from the patterns of our times. He does this through His Word. The Holy Spirit leads us as we consume God’s word to trust and obey. We as Christ-followers, as Christians living in this world, ought to be led by God’s word in our decisions, in our actions, and in our speaking. The Prophet Amos was given a vision of a plumb line in reference to One who would come, the One who is aligned with God’s desire for all humanity. Jesus came to show us how to live what He taught through love for each one of us.
Do you know our lives are to reflect the thankful heart we have for what God has done? We ought to desire to walk into His presence with singing because of what Jesus has done— He saved us, He redeemed us, He called us His own! That is worth giving God all the praise and thanksgiving for working in each of our lives. As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week, let us remember the cost and give thanks to God for His hand of mercy and grace upon our lives.
There’s something about serving and being served that inspires humility in a person. Learning to engage in good deeds brings us closer to understanding Jesus’ character. He emphasized the importance of serving by kneeling at the feet of his disciples and washing them as a slave would for his master. Loving our church is intertwined with serving each other. When Jesus commanded us to love one another, he expected us to show that love by serving each other the way he served people.
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