My family and I were on a relaxing vacation, soaking in sun rays on the beaches of Florida’s west coast. A beautifully breezy Sunday morning lay before us. I woke up and made some breakfast for the kids while my husband set up the laptop in the living room. Slowly but surely, the children emerged from their bedrooms, sleepy-slumber still fresh on their faces.
We all gathered around, breakfast in hand, as we watched a LIVE message from one of the churches in our area. It just so happened that John Maxwell was a guest speaker at the church that morning. He is someone my husband and I have looked up to throughout our lives. He’s so wise and loving, I like to think of him as yet another universally loved grandfather.
John Maxwell spoke on seven lessons God has taught him in his lifetime—and let me tell you, it rocked my world. I’ve learned to value and cherish those who are older and wiser than I. They are wells of wisdom for the weary traveler. Fresh wind in the sails of a continuing voyager. A high-priced treasure to be loved, appreciated, and honored. I hope to learn from what they experience.
I ate up his every word and found myself longing to embrace the values he spoke of with heartfelt enthusiasm. During the message, he said something that I hope I will never forget. It was along these lines:
“If I see you as hurting, I’ll help you. If I see you as broken, I’ll fix you. But if I see you as valuable, I’ll serve you.”
If I ever come to a place where I neglect or disregard the simple act of serving others—
please pull me aside and lovingly punch me in the arm. Jesus said this about serving others:
“Now Jesus was fully aware that the Father had placed all things under his control, for he had come from God and was about to go back to be with him. So he got up from the meal and took off his outer robe, and took a towel and wrapped it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ dirty feet and dry them with his towel
... After washing their feet, he put his robe on and returned to his place at the table. “Do you understand what I just did?” Jesus said. “You’ve called me your teacher and lord, and you’re right, for that’s who I am. So if I’m your teacher and lord and have just washed your dirty feet, then you should follow the example that I’ve set for you and wash one another’s dirty feet. Now do for each other what I have just done for you. I speak to you timeless truth: a servant is not superior to his master, and an apostle is never greater than the one who sent him. So now put into practice what I have done for you, and you will experience a life of happiness enriched with untold blessings!” -John 13:3-17
Jesus was fully aware that God had placed everything under His control. Jesus also knew that He was about to be taken back to His Father. With that knowledge, one of the last things He decided to do was serve others.
He served those who would deny Him.
He served Judas, who would betray Him.
He served, with His life, those who would physically inflict pain on Him.
He served.
We may think that service is an assigned position to those who don't have the confidence or ability to truly make something of themselves. But that, my sweet friends, is so fabulously far from the truth.
The courage to serve is not a lack of confidence; in fact, it’s the exact opposite. Only the truly confident person can walk in full humility because they know Whose they are and Whose opinion truly matters.
"For the truly courageous servant is not defined by what they do, but who they are in the eyes of God."
Want to hear more about how scripture relates to this topic. Simply click this link and write "Chapter Eighteen" in the subject line for a free PDF download of Courage to Serve.
Purchase your copy of Courage to Walk today!
Want more resources? Check out this podcast with Pete Scazzero on what he would tell his 25, 35, 45 and 55 year old self—and beyond. What a great listen.
Photo Credit: Gary Barnes, pexels.com
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