Day 223 - A Life of Service

"Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

1 Cor. 15:58

What is the work of the Lord? It's the meal I prepare for my hungry brood of children...it's the shoulder rub I give my husband after a hard day's work...it's taking care of my home...it's being a diligent employee for my boss...it's hugging a child who is hurting...it's encouraging another woman...it's praying for my neighbors and my enemies.

In the real world, this earthly world, there's a heirarchy to everything. Take my job, for instance. My Judge is in charge over me. In viewing a chart of positions in my office, there is a heirarchial breakdown. In sports, there is a head coach, the players, and the water boys. Again, heirarchy.

But with Christ, it is not so.

"You know that those who are regarded as rulers of this world dominate...and their high positions exercise power over others. But it must not be like that among Christians. On the contrary. Whoever wants to become great among you must be a servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be slave to all. For even the son of Man did not come to be served but to serve." Mark 10:42-45

Women pay top dollar to have a day at the spa. Our feet are massaged and rubbed with sweet scented lotions. Our faces are polished and scrubbed. Our hair is coiffed and perfected. Our nails are painted. We are completely pampered. We pay this amount of money so that someone else is our servant and takes care of our "needs" and desires.

But in Christ, we are explicitly told to serve others.

I have found in my life that when I am feeling blue or down in the dumps, a trip to the mall for a new blouse might temporarily perk me up, but what has a more lasting effect is an act of service by me towards someone else.

Next time you are sad or feeling "woe-is-me," I encourage you to reach out to others and serve. This will most definitely pull you out of your despair and bring you back into alignment with God and His will for your life, and will put into perspective the issue you are facing.