A Servant's Heart
by Debra Ferrell
Did you know that having a servant’s heart is very important to God? Throughout the Bible it is the central theme, and Jesus Christ called Himself just that. He was, is and sets the perfect example of love and service to others. In Mark 10:45, the scripture states, “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” (AMP). As you can see here, it was important for Jesus Christ to authenticate his love for all mankind.
Jesus did not want us to be self-serving, self-centered individuals, but to meet the needs of others. It is an act of kindness; a sense that we actually do care for others. In Matthew 22:39, He taught that we should love your neighbor as yourself. The scripture tells us, “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for others’(AMP).
I feel that giving my time to others is one of the most valuable walks in my Christian life. You will grow in maturity as you continue to serve and you will find that it is very fulfilling. Servanthood sets the standard for encouragement and hope and is the most big-hearted gift that you can do for one another. For me, I give my time volunteering in the nursing homes with my pet therapy ministry. I bring puppies into the homes, and I can personally tell you that the joy in their hearts in unmeasurable. Many of the elderly are lonely, and for some, even their own family members don’t visit. Just chatting with them makes all the difference and to bring an animal, in many cases, conveys joyous memories of their former pets. It also gives me a huge platform to preach the gospel. I am truly blessed to be able to give back like this.
Sometimes, God will test us out of our comfort zone to see if we will be obedient. Ultimately, this is shaping us into a greater glory to do His service. So in this, I ask you to search out the scriptures and see for yourself how Jesus served others in many capacities. Are you following His patterns? Seek Him and discover that you may find out where your true treasure lies being in the service of others. Remember that Jesus Christ set the principle for us while He walked here on earth. Let’s continue His work and be Disciples of Christ; less of us and more like Him. Not all of us have the same gifts, but we all have a gift, so we should always set the example as Christians and follow the ways of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He wants us to empty ourselves and serve others. Take time out of your schedule and make a commitment to spread some happiness in another’s life. It is meaningful and will not go un-noticed.
Jesus did not want us to be self-serving, self-centered individuals, but to meet the needs of others. It is an act of kindness; a sense that we actually do care for others. In Matthew 22:39, He taught that we should love your neighbor as yourself. The scripture tells us, “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for others’(AMP).
I feel that giving my time to others is one of the most valuable walks in my Christian life. You will grow in maturity as you continue to serve and you will find that it is very fulfilling. Servanthood sets the standard for encouragement and hope and is the most big-hearted gift that you can do for one another. For me, I give my time volunteering in the nursing homes with my pet therapy ministry. I bring puppies into the homes, and I can personally tell you that the joy in their hearts in unmeasurable. Many of the elderly are lonely, and for some, even their own family members don’t visit. Just chatting with them makes all the difference and to bring an animal, in many cases, conveys joyous memories of their former pets. It also gives me a huge platform to preach the gospel. I am truly blessed to be able to give back like this.
Sometimes, God will test us out of our comfort zone to see if we will be obedient. Ultimately, this is shaping us into a greater glory to do His service. So in this, I ask you to search out the scriptures and see for yourself how Jesus served others in many capacities. Are you following His patterns? Seek Him and discover that you may find out where your true treasure lies being in the service of others. Remember that Jesus Christ set the principle for us while He walked here on earth. Let’s continue His work and be Disciples of Christ; less of us and more like Him. Not all of us have the same gifts, but we all have a gift, so we should always set the example as Christians and follow the ways of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He wants us to empty ourselves and serve others. Take time out of your schedule and make a commitment to spread some happiness in another’s life. It is meaningful and will not go un-noticed.