Live To Serve

I have been processing and praying through the idea that God created us to serve.

We see throughout Scripture how Jesus modeled servant-leadership for us as He put others before Himself and selflessly washed the feet of His disciples.

A couple months ago, I shared with you that I had spent some time with my grandad. His health is declining, but I am determined to embrace every moment I have with him. Well, he just had his second hip surgery over the summer, and it went well, praise God! I visited a few weeks after the procedure, and I heard him calling my name from the other room. He needed me to help him put his shoes and socks on.

So I grabbed a pair of socks and his orthopedic shoes out of the closet. He looked at me and said, can you help me? Handing me lotion for his legs and feet. I said, “of course.” He looked at me and said, “I can never get anyone else to do this for me. Since I had my surgery, I can’t bend down very far.” I looked at him and smiled. My eyes began to swell and my heart was full of compassion. I felt so honored to be able to help my grandad when he couldn’t help himself. It was as if the roles had reversed, and I was given the opportunity to care for him, just as he had cared for me so well when I was young.

Family, God created us to serve. In fact, when we help others, our brains release oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine. These hormones have the effect of boosting our mood and counteracting the effect of cortisol, which is our stress hormone. That means our bodies can relieve stress by lending a hand to someone else. Amazing!

God’s Word says in Philippians 2:3-8 (NIV):

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature[a] 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[b] 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 2:3-8

We were made to serve. Today, I want you to find small opportunities to put someone first or lend a helping hand.

Not only will it change their life, but it will change yours too!

Som Tami

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