“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant… For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:43-45, NIV)

Jesus looked the disciples straight in the eye and said “Serve others… Because I have, am, and will do the same for you, giving my life for you.”  And Jesus looks us straight in the eye and says the same today! 

When my two sons were elementary school our church had a Wednesday after school program that ended with an evening meal. I was a “table parent” during the meal time. The whole group always said this table blessing together before eating. “I am a child of God. I am loved and accepted. I will treat others, as God treats me.” More than twenty years later, I still remember that table blessing being a powerful reminder of God’s love and expectation!

Serving others is essential, because living as a disciple of Jesus means being “other” rather than “self” serving. That means knowing that you are deeply loved, accepted, and treated as such by God… most notably in the life-giving sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. And it means treating others around you in that same self-sacrificial way. 

In other words, it’s about living out that old table blessing prayer: “I am a child of God. I am loved and accepted. I will treat others, as God treats me.” May it be so, in my life and yours!

Your partner on the journey

Pastor Steve