Serve.

When I thought of this word in the past, it was in terms not connected with Christ. Service to others was a good thing, something I should periodically participate in, and required a sacrifice on my part. In order to serve, one must give up one’s time or money. I “served” periodically, but rarely was I serving to seek a closer relationship with Him or reflect on the perfect way Christ served. In fact, He is still serving! (Romans 8:34).

Recently, I was browsing the book of Mark, unsure what I was searching for, but waiting on the Holy Spirit to move in me through God’s Word. Inspiration soon struck when I read Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

I suddenly realized a major characteristic of Christ was to serve. Matthew 23:11 reads, “The greatest among you will be your servant.” The Savior who saved mankind, was our servant. The reality of this verse is humbling and revealing. If I am striving to be a godly woman and to be like Christ (1 John 2:6), then I should reflect the same characteristics as Him. I, too, should want to serve.

How was I to serve as Christ did and reflect Him to others? What does it mean to serve? Why does God see servitude as important? These were questions I needed answers to, so I dug deeper into His Word and sought answers.

I have taken a more in-depth look at Christ’s servant heart and what that means for us, as Christians. I would like to share what I have discovered  in the form of a 7-day challenge.

It is my hope and prayer we would come away from this challenge with a heart more willing to serve and a better understanding of the blessings God wants us to give and take from practicing servitude.

Join this event by clicking here, and RSVPing on Facebook. By doing this, you will then receive the daily devotions and challenges for the next seven days.

Day 1 of Service:

Scripture: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. – 1 John 2:6

Thoughts: Today’s scripture is reminder to be like Christ. We made the decision to accept Christ into our lives. By doing so, we readily accepted the call to live as He did. Because we are flawed, we will never be able to live perfectly, but God’s grace covers us. However, knowing we are to live as Christ means seeking a heart after Him, a heart that serves. This can be challenging! In a world where we are busy, tired, and often short on time and money, service seems to be at the bottom of our to-do list. It is my hope this challenge would cultivate our hearts to make serving a priority and better see how God views service, a character trait created and given to us by Him!

*Note: If you have not accepted Jesus in your life, I would love to discuss the life-changing decision with you!

2-Step Challenge: Pray to God today. Pray He will reveal to you what He desires during this challenge. Thank Him for sending the Son of Man to serve and not be served, and ask that this week’s scripture reach you.

Not only do I ask you to pray for your own heart to be renewed and transformed, but pick a sister in Christ also participating in this challenge, type her name in the comments, and let her know you are praying for her as well! Show her service, of the greatest love, by praying for her!

I will be praying as well.

Day 2 of Service:

Scripture: You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. -Galatians 5:13

Thoughts: The freedom God has granted us, through the death of Christ, is not freedom to sin. Though we are guaranteed forgiveness when we fall short, we cannot use that forgiveness as an excuse to live as we shouldn’t. Instead we are to use that freedom to serve one another in love, not indulge in the flesh.

Challenge: What indulgence of the flesh can you remove from your life this week? The television? An unhealthy food? Instagram? Consider an indulgence to remove for the next 6 days; I encourage you to participate in this mini-fast!  When you find yourself wanting the indulgence or thinking about it, pray instead. Center your prayer on service and asking God to reveal a way for you to serve today and this week!

If you feel comfortable doing so, in the comments share what indulgence you are giving up to better serve!

Day 3 of Service:

Scripture: [Jesus] Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death– even death on a cross. -Philippians 2: 6-8

Thoughts: In these verses, it’s important to read about the servant nature of Jesus in the context of his obedience to die on the cross. Jesus’ servant heart reflected complete submission to the will of God. Jesus did not want to endure the sins of the world (Matthew 26:39), but He did want to obey God fully.

Friend, if there is anything I wish you would remember and take away from the challenge, it’s this: being a true servant means seeking and following the will of God. That is what it means to have the nature of a servant. Jesus modeled this and scripture enforces it.

Challenge: What is God asking you to do in service to Him? Lead a ministry? Witness to a neighbor? Encourage a co-worker? If you are not sure what service He wants you currently pursuing, pray He reveal it to you. Once you then have a clear objective of service to fulfill, friend, go! Stay in the will of God and serve! Do not let your busy schedule, excuses, and Satan’s evil schemes (scripture) get in the way!

In the comments, would you be willing to share how God is currently leading you to serve? If you do not have clarity on how He wants you serving, let us know so your sisters can pray for you! I have been at that place of uncertainty, and the prayers of others were greatly appreciated!  

Day 4 of Service:

Scripture: Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. -1 Peter 4:10

Thoughts: God gave each of us a spiritual gift (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). If you are unsure what your spiritual gift is, you can take this questionnaire to help you find out. The test was spot on with my results.

Adult Questionaire: http://www.spiritualgiftstest.com/test/adult

Youth Questionaire: http://www.spiritualgiftstest.com/test/youth

This gift(s) is to be used to serve others! God gave us a gift! Isn’t that such a special truth to know? He loves us enough to give each of us a gift, to use in His name!  

Knowing your spiritual gift(s) can help and guide you to service. Identifying and refining your gift is important!

However, please know, though God gives us each a spiritual gift, He is more powerful than any questionnaire results we can find on the internet. He can equip us for any assignment and service He wishes. We only need to be in contact with Him, receive His will and carry out what He wants us to bless others with.

Challenge: Take the questionnaire (or one similar) and identify your spiritual gift. Use your gift to serve another today/ this week! In the comments below, please share with us what your spiritual gift is and how you might use it to serve another! I would love to see and read the many gifts God has given this group of awesome women in the challenge.

Day 5 of Service:

Scripture: Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”-Luke 17:11-19

Thoughts: Do you ever feel like you serve, serve, serve, and it is never noticed? In today’s scripture, Jesus heals ten men with leprosy. Leprosy is a painful skin disease that causes sores and nerve damage. Not only were these men hurting, but having leprosy made them “unclean” and outcasts in their society. Jesus gifted them with physical healing, and a new start in life! Yet, of the ten men He healed, only one comes back to thank Him.

Jesus knew that serving often meant no recognition, and we should realize this too. We serve to bless others and fulfill the will of God, not to get a thank you.

Sometimes, this is hard for us to accept when we feel unappreciated and undervalued. Can I tell you a great truth though? God sees our service, (Job 28:24) and this is why we serve in the first place. We serve to praise Him, reflect Him, and grow closer to Him- not to get recognition.

Challenge: Let’s serve another today in secret. Anonymously bless them. We can do this by leaving him/her a card, praying for him/her, buying the meal of the car in the drive-thru behind us, etc. However we choose to serve today, we do it in secret knowing God sees us serving, and will reward us for it (Matthew 6:4).

Also, take a moment with me to thank God for all He has served us with. He brought us Jesus, grace, and other blessings abound.  Let’s thank Him for such service and not be like the nine men who did not come back to give thanks!  

Day 6 of Service:

Scripture: Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.- Romans 8:34

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. -1 John 2:1

Thoughts: Yesterday, we discussed serving to not expect anything in return. Christ modeled this multiple times. He also modeled continuous servitude when facing unappreciation, mockery, and pain. As today’s scriptures tell us, even after the ultimate act of service (Jesus dying on the cross), His service did not end there. Jesus is still serving! He sits at the right hand of God and intercedes for us sinners! He is our advocate! What hope and thankfulness these verses give me! Jesus continues to serve us, never stopping.

Challenge: Today’s challenge is the same as yesterday! Why? Because servants do not stop serving for God. Let’s serve another today in secret. Anonymously bless them. We can do this by leaving him/her a card, praying for him/her, buying the meal of the car in the drive-thru behind us, etc.

Day 7 of Service:

Scripture:  When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.- Matthew 8:15

Thoughts: I wish I could meet this woman, Peter’s mother-in- law. We are not told her name in these verses, but don’t we all need to follow her example? The woman is touched by Christ, healed, and rejuvenated. What does she then do?

She serves.

This grateful woman immediately begins to serve those in her household, after being touched by the Lord. Friends, He enables us to serve, and we serve Him because He has touched us! We need Christ’s touch, strength, and wisdom. You see, we cannot serve all on our own.

Serving requires a relationship with Jesus. A relationship where we have been changed by Him and that change enables us to serve others for His glory.

Challenge: Would you take a moment to pray this prayer below with me today?

Lord, I thank you serving me. Forgive me for the times I too easily forget Your own servant’s heart. Your service is a gift, a blessing, and a model for me. I ask that you keep molding my own heart to be like yours. I want a heart that longs to serve for You. I ask the Holy Spirit to intervene when the indulgences of my flesh get in the way of me serving. Lord, open my eyes to see how you want me serving. I want to further Your Kingdom by using the gifts you have given me. How special are those gifts, and I thank you for them!  May I not seek recognition for my service, but be content in knowing you see me serve for You. I long to follow the lead of Peter’s mother-in-law and be touched by You in such a way, I immediately begin serving. Be with my sisters in Christ as we serve in our families and communities together, and I thank you for them. Amen