In Service & In Love
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
James 3:13-17
Take a step back & look at how/where you serve others on a daily basis.
Your family? Friends? Strangers? At home? In the workplace? On the streets?
We all serve someone in some capacity in our everyday lives.
How are you serving? Where is your heart in the midst of serving?
Ponder all of this for a moment.
For me lately, my attitude has been anything but loving. My heart & mind set has been selfish if I’m being brutally honest 🤷♀️
My daughter has been teething = fussy & clingy, I grumble that I don’t have time to do all the things that need to be done, my son runs around constantly getting into all he was told not to get into, I’m being pulled in a million different directions as we are going through some (what should be exciting) life changes & I say out loud multiple times a day “I’m only one person!!!” as I get overwhelmed & defeated, wishing I had more hands &/or someone to help me.
When I took the time to step back & sit still with God, He convicted me of my sin. My heart was (& sometimes still is) in the wrong place. & I truly believe the only way our heart can be in the right place is through the work of the Holy Spirit in us.
Holy Spirit, work in my heart! Plant faith & Truth in my heart so I can recognize when I am in the wrong.
I love when God gives me a heart check & wake up call to my selfishness! As painful as it is…admitting we are wrong… I would much rather be aware than to continue, blind to my sin.
The Truth that the Holy Spirit reminded me of when I came to him exhausted, lonely, & stretched thin, was that we have the greatest help we could ever be given!
I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalms 121:1-2
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.
Psalms 55:22
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
Deuteronomy 31:8
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13
I can do ALL things THROUGH Christ! Whatever long list of to-dos you have that is weighing you down- work load, family load, life load…. give it to God & ask that he will give you the time, energy, strength, desire, & joy to do it all! Because we can’t do it alone! Sure, we try…. But we will always fall short.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Romans 3:23-24
So, whatever you do on a daily basis, do it with all your heart as if you were doing it for the Lord & not for people.
Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord & not for people.
Colossians 3:23
Our daily work is a personal sacrifice. Whether it is driving your grandmother to a doctor’s appointment, chasing disobedient toddlers, filing paperwork, or teaching in a classroom, it is all an offering of ourselves, in which we are called to surrender daily.
If we are to love as Jesus loves, we have to surrender our selfish ambitions & align our hearts with the Word of God.💛
Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”
Luke 9:23
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will
Romans 12:1-2
Selfishness = hate.
For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
James 3:16
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Philippians 2:3-4
Selflessness =love.
We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 19Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. 20Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him. And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.
1 John 3:16-18
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
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
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Romans 12:9-13
agape,
