Have you ever been around a person who enjoyed serving others? Serving others with joy is a wonderful trait that can be very satisfying. Serving God is a gift. Modern psychology supports what the Bible has long told us, that serving others is good for our well-being.
Jesus our Savior is the greatest servant the world has ever seen. Matthew 20:28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many. [1] We are called, as believes in Jesus, to be His hands and feet. The Bible tells us to care for the poor, to help the widowed and orphaned and to serve our brothers and sisters in the faith. Paul gives us further insight into serving. Philippians 2:4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. [2]
Zechariah Served the Lord Faithfully
It was a gift to serve God as a priest in the Temple in Jerusalem. Think of how few people in the history of the world were given the opportunity to serve in the Temple, yet Zechariah was one of them. God has a masterful plan for each person and every plan includes opportunities to serve God. I want you to mediate on that.
Serving the Lord is so important that God has placed opportunities in your life each day. Luke 1:8 One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. 9 As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense.[3] Zechariah was given an opportunity to serve the Lord and during that time of service the angel, Gabriel, gave him a special message from the Lord. Even though he and his wife were old, they would have a son.
Serving God Transforms Us
When we serve the Lord directly or indirectly our focus goes from ourselves to looking up at the Lord. We can think in a different way on how we can impact the world through serving. Therefore, serving the Lord is a gift. Being great in God’s Kingdom does not come from high positions of leadership or authority. Greatness in God’s eyes is seen through humble service.
Perhaps the Lord is prompting you to step out and serve. The Lord wants to teach you about serving and He teaches us through doing. I have found that I may be reluctant to serve, but when I do, I am very glad I did. That is the amazing thing about serving. Our service has an impact on others. People notice more than we think when we serve, and it affects our Christian witness to others. We may not see or realize the importance of serving others, but God does.
To hear how serving God is a gift, listen here:
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.