AVBSWGG Day 4….Service
Hi friends!
Welcome back to Day 4 of AVBSWGG.
Today we are looking at the discipline of Service. We are called, as Christians, to serve. We know that just as our Lord strapped a towel around His waist and knelt to wash the disciples’ feet at the Last Supper, we are to follow suit.
Much of the life of an employee or parent or even the boss of the company involves service. So you may think you have this one down with no problems. But you would be missing the point of the discipline of service to produce godliness; serving that brings you into a position to be nearer to God.
Both of the books we are using for this have a chapter on Serving, but I wanted to highlight the material from Richard Foster’s book that really opened my eyes to a deeper understanding of serving as a discipline.
I am taking this from his material, so these are my notes, not my original writing.
These are examples of serving that you may never have thought of. Let me tell you, I cry every time I read this list and I want to do better at acting on them. Here we go:
Service
Service of Hiddeness – practicing doing things that no one generally knows about. To do things for others with no one knowing helps kill pride. (This is from me – you may be thinking of doing this for strangers, but seriously – make a habit to do things for others around the house or at work or in your neighborhood that NO ONE knows was you.)
Service of Small Things – reference is Dorcas in Acts 9:30. Active helpfulness – simple assistance in trivial things. When we take the time away from what we are doing to help someone else, we are putting them before us.
Service of Guarding the Reputation of Others – “Charity” – saves us from backbiting and gossip. Discipline of holding one’s tongue.
Service of Being Served – Peter’s refusal to allow Jesus to wash his feet. This was an act of veiled pride instead of humility. According to Foster, the thinking is “I wouldn’t do that if I were the Master.” It is an act of submission and service to allow others to serve you. It is humbling to need help from other people.
Service of Common Courtesy – Titus 3:2. Paul told Titus “we are to be gentle and to show perfect courtesy toward all men.” The cultural courtesies that we think are silly – are not hypocritical. It is respect for politeness.
Service of Hospitality – 1 Peter 4:9; Romans 12:13: 1 Timothy 3:2 and Titus 1:8. Making a place in your home for visitors. Uncomplicated hospitably. Our flesh prohibits this service if we are concerned about our house, provisions, etc.
Service of Listening – just to listen with compassion and patience. We don’t have to fix it – or come up with the right answer. We just need to listen. As we learn to listen to each other, we learn to listen to God.
Service of Bearing the Burdens of Others – Galatians 6:2 We show love when we share the hurts and sorrows of others. We may make the mistake of thinking this is easy and soon find ourselves overwhelmed with the sorrows of others. We lift the burdens to Jesus, for our friends ….but this takes practice. That is why it is … a discipline <3
Service of Sharing the Word of Life – No one person can hear all God is saying – learn to share what He has shared with you.
Pray this prayer – Lord Jesus, I would so appreciate it if You would bring me someone today whom I can serve.
Today’s activity:
Go back over that list and think about an average day in your life. Consider all the ways these disciplines of service are offered through various opportunities that arise in your every day life. Select one to focus on for the rest of the day. Perhaps it would help to write this list out for yourself and read as you learn to pray that bold pray at the bottom.
For instance, the next time your little one interrupts what you are doing to tie a pair of shoes on them…or when you see the dirty Kleenex left behind on a table top…or empty the dishwasher, or you stop yourself from saying something about someone that is unkind…consider how you can see it as service…hidden, small things, guarding the reputation.
That’s a workout, isn’t it? Which ones are new to you as a means of serving others? Which one would be hardest for you? Which ones do you already do and never realized could be considered a discipline of your spiritual growth?
I have to tell you that this list has been one of the disciplines that has most changed my heart and spiritual life. It works a beautiful change in us as we incorporate these gentle acts into our daily walk for the purpose of growing in godliness.
So how about a snack break?
VBS usually calls for little cups of snacks and, as one of you reminded me, red koolaid. I have been envisioning Dixie cups of the that sticky red drink all week since I read her comment, so here is a sweet and salty treat to wash down with your beverage.
Cereal Nut Mix
1 box Quaker Oatmeal Squares/original flavor
2 Cups mixed nuts
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup butter
1 tsp Baking soda
Spray a roaster pan with cooking spray. Mix nuts & cereal together in roaster.
In a saucepan melt the butter, sugar and syrup together until just beginning to boil. Add baking soda and stir. (It will foam up)
Pour mixture over cereal and nuts and stir well.
Bake at 250 degrees for one hour – stir every 15 minutes. Empty onto wax paper and let cool completely. Break apart. You can store in an airtight container, IF there is any left <3
I hope you have a great day as you ponder how you can challenge yourself with some of these ideas about serving. See you tomorrow <3