Loving our neighbor does not mean just those who physically live on our street or in our building. We are called to love those around us, even when it feels uncomfortable and sacrificial. Jesus sought out the lowly and the sick and oppressed and served them without hesitation.
READ
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Galatians 5:13-14
REFLECT
-When confronted with evidence of pain or injustice, am I moved to do something about it?
-If asked the question ‘do you love your neighbor as yourself?’ what is my response? Do I know who to identify as my neighbor?
-What does it look like for me to use my Christian freedom to serve?
GUIDED PRAYER PROMPT
Dear Lord, thank you for loving me. Thank you for seeking me out in my lowest and darkest moments and loving me still. Guide me to those around me and in my city who need help and soften my heart to help however I can. Use me to be your hands and feet here on Earth where you have placed me. In your name we pray, Amen.
Day 14 - we serve...in the city
Day 8 - we serve
Jesus demonstrated sacrificial service in His life and ministry. Everything He did was oriented toward seeking the good of those around Him. READ For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45 REFLECT -What does the word ‘ransom’ make me think of? How does this relate to Jesus? -When I look at how I spend my time, how often is my time focused on myself? How much time is spent sacrificing ‘my’ time for others? -How does it play out for me to seek the good of those around me? Is this on my radar? GUIDED PRAYER PROMPT Dear Lord, thank you for Jesus and the example of sacrifice and service that His life showed. Lord, please make me more like you and give me the desire to serve those around me, in my home, my church, and my city. Use me to be your hands and feet here on Earth where you have placed me. In your name we pray, Amen. ___ We SERVE in 3 places: the home, the church, and our city. We will spend the next 6 days looking at serving in each of these contexts.
Day 9 - we serve...at home
Serving others begins with making ourselves intentionally aware of the needs of those around us. This begins in the home, as our most significant relationships exist within those walls. READ Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4) REFLECT -How aware am I of my family’s interests? Am I mindful of their needs and desires? -How can I regularly be intentional about looking for ways to seek the good of those in my home? -What things do I need to stop doing in order to be able to start serving my family better? GUIDED PRAYER PROMPT Dear Lord, thank you for my home and the people you have blessed me with. Please illuminate the areas where I am not serving those in my home and grant me the humility to do something about it. Use me to be your hands and feet here on Earth where you have placed me. In your name we pray, Amen.
Day 10 - we serve...at home
Love is said to be a feeling, but according to Scripture, love is primarily an action. Jesus is the perfect example of love and we can follow His lead in how to care for and serve those in our home. READ Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 REFLECT -Do my actions in my home look like what love IS? i.e. patient, kind, not envious, etc? In what areas do I struggle when it comes to showing love? -Do I serve my family in love even in times when I’m feeling frustrated, or otherwise? How can I call upon God for help and follow Jesus’ example? -What does unconditional love in the home look like? Am I gracious, putting my needs and feelings second to serve my family? GUIDED PRAYER PROMPT Dear Lord, thank you for your love and for your son Jesus as the example of perfect and sacrificial love. Convict me of the ways I do not serve in love in my home or those closest to me. Use me to be your hands and feet here on Earth where you have placed me. In your name we pray, Amen.