Search My Heart

Philippians 2: 1-11 is one of my favorite passages in scripture. My bible is filled with notes on this page. I love how it lists benefits we receive being a follower of Christ; encouragement, fellowship, tenderness and compassion.  I experience these wonderful benefits most, when I am around other believers.

The passage immediately gives us a challenge. God doesn’t want us to only stay around situations where we only experience these benefits. We are called to take those benefits and serve others.  As a Christian this shouldn't be a surprise.  We hear and read that our job is to serve.  But, this is where a lot of us struggle.

I think there are three kinds of Christians when it comes to serving others.  

1. The one who “gets” it.  Serving seems to flow from them.  It is who they are. They give of themselves freely.
2. The one who serves but it just doesn’t seem or feel natural.  They serve because they know it is what God wants.
3. The one who leaves serving to others.  They will give their money and donate items to their church or community outreach projects, but they think they are not gifted to serve.

No matter where you may fall, I believe we can all check our heart with regards to serving. If you relate to the third example, let me encourage you. I have not read anywhere in the bible where serving others is only for those naturally gifted to do so.

God has called you to serve!  Philippians 2: 5-7 tells us, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus...he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant…”

I think the rub comes with, WHO and HOW do we serve…

WHO do we serve?  Paul says in Philippians, “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit...consider others better than yourself.”  

If we have a hard time serving, we have possibly put ourselves in a higher position than the one we are called to serve. Is there a particular group of people or even a singular person, you think you're better than? I know this is a hard question, but spend some time honestly searching your heart.  Take time to pray about it, asking God to reveal the truth.

When you see who it is you put “below” yourself, THIS is WHO you should serve.

So, HOW should we serve? Philippians 2:3 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”

In humility.  This is hard.  The easiest way to serve in humility is when we've been humbled. It can feel very humbling when we realize we put ourselves before so many others.  This is a good place to start. It will take HUMILITY and faith, and when you are not sure you can do it, remember; Jesus did it for you.

Dear Joe: Carry on the Work

1 Timothy 6:11-20

 

What if Paul was to write a letter to you to carry on your Christian service? What would he say? Would he tell you to take care of your relationship with Christ? Would he say to fight the good fight? Would he tell you to reach out to those who have been entrusted to your care? Would he say to share the Gospel openly?

 

When Paul left Ephesus he put Timothy in charge of leading the church. That would not have been an easy task. You could compare it to being the head coach at Ohio State following Woody Hayes. Timothy was following in the footsteps of a legend. Yet, Paul believed in Timothy’s ability to lead others. But first things first.

 

With Paul’s final charge to Timothy, he instructs him to first take care of his own relationship with Jesus. Paul writes:

 

“Flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith.”

 

I’m an alum of Michigan State and a big basketball fan. Last weekend was the Big Ten Tournament and Tom Izzo had his team in the thick of it. Following their first game against Ohio State, Thad Matta made the statement that that game was the most physical game he had ever seen in his ten years in the Big Ten.

 

Following Jesus can be just like that. It’s a war with eternal consequences where you must “fight the good fight of the faith” - or lose. You fight it for yourself, and for others.

 

In todays passage Paul addresses a specific issue that some of the believers were struggling with – money. Apparently, money had become a stumbling block, or even an idol for some. Paul instructs Timothy to, “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life”.

 

That’s the deal with idols; they are not “truly life”. They’re a lie. They present themselves as bringing life, as providing all that you need, as making life worth living. But they can’t; because they are not God.

 

Jesus didn’t write letters that we know of, but if he did, what would he say to you right now? Dear Joe: Flee from evil. Pursue righteousness and godliness. Resist idols. Help others to do the same. Your Brother, Lord and Savior, Jesus.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20timothy%206%3A11-20&version=NIV;MSG
https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/1Tim.6.11-1Tim.6.20

The Day I Fed Jesus-Matthew 25:31-46

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:40


Have you ever had a song stuck in your head? You may even be in the middle of doing something before you knew you were singing the song. A few years ago while serving with a youth group on a mission trip I had a moment like that.

I taught the morning devotion on Matthew 25, and explained to the students how, when we serve others we are serving Jesus. With the thought of blessing others and God still fresh in our minds we headed out to a local soup kitchen. I was given the job of personally handing the tray of food to each diner.

Some of the guests came by and would look me in the eye, while others walked by without raising their head. I wondered about each story. It was then that I realized I had been humming a song while I passed out each tray.

Maybe you know the song, “I Will Live My Life For You.” I was unconsciously humming a line of the chorus and when realization hit, I couldn’t stop the tears. You see, as I passed out a tray I would hum, “You are Lord of Lords,” then another tray, “You are King of Kings,” another tray, “You are Mighty God, over everything.”

It was the most wonderful experience. I was reminded how each tray of food I served, served Jesus. I didn’t need to know their story to bless them. What was important was that I understood Jesus received each tray.

Read today's passage at Biblegateway Matthew 25:31-46