THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I'VE EVER DONE
One year ago, as Linda was approaching the end of her life on earth, I penned this article, which I’ve adapted for this week. It’s one of my most popular blogs:
During the time when Linda struggled with her health, I poured my energy into serving her. At times I grew weary. Bone weary. One night, as I was crying out to God, he met me with a comforting word. I didn’t hear an audible voice, but he spoke just as clearly to my heart, as if a heavenly megaphone had belted out his words. “Serving your wife is the most important thing you’ve ever done.” That certainly gave me pause. Then he continued, “More important than helping baptize 400 people in Ethiopia. More important than preaching in dozens of villages in India. More important than the work you’ve done in recovery programs.”
I found this thought hard to accept. That’s why I’m confident it originated with the Lord. Of course serving Linda was important. But more important than baptizing 400 people? Yet even as I questioned it, deep in my heart I grasped its truthfulness in a tiny way. We’re never more like Jesus than when we serve others.
In Philippians 2:3-4 Paul writes, “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.” Sound easy? Hardly.
In verse 5 he adds, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” He then describes how Jesus didn’t cling to his deity, but humbled himself in the greatest way possible. He became human, and died the most humiliating of deaths—on a cross. Serving us, by meeting our greatest need (salvation), is why Jesus came to earth and died. We’re never more like Jesus than when we serve others.
As mother Teresa was attending to the needs of a leper in Calcutta, a reporter commented, “I wouldn’t do what you do for a million dollars.”
She replied, “Neither would I.” But out of a loving heart, she freely performed this task. I get it. That’s what God wanted me to understand. Even in the midst of weariness, I need to remember I’m never more like Jesus than when I serve others. Serving like Jesus is the most important thing we’ll ever do.
Principle: Serving others is the most important thing we’ll ever do.
Ponder:
In what areas, or with what person, do you find it most difficult to serve?
Under what circumstances is it easiest to serve others?
Pursue: For a deeper dive, study Philippians 2:5-11.
Lord Jesus, thank you for modeling perfect unselfish service for me. Help me to serve others as you have served me.
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