Serving Others. Get a Little Dirt on Your Hands.

"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love." Galatians 5:13

Most of us are familiar with serving others in love. But, we have to admit... most of us serve others with a motive in mind. "Do I get recognition for this?" "Can I get a pat-on-the-back?" "What will I get in return?" "Will others look up to me?"

When we are honest with ourselves, we begin to realize we aren't the servants God calls us to be. So how can we develop a servant's heart? Let's look at Philippians 2:3-8: "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interest, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard quality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

God did it for us. Why not do it for Him?

John 13 gives us the perfect picture of a servant. During the Last Supper, before Jesus was crucified on the cross, He got up from the meal to wash His disciples feet. I don't know about you, but I have had many friends who are completely grossed out by feet. I mean mortified at the sight of them. So imagine the disciplines dirty, grimy feet. These men walked miles and miles a day proclaiming Jesus' name! But, Jesus didn't care. He washed them anyways. And after, He made Himself a servant to these men, he returned to the table and said, "If I then, the Lord and the Teacher washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him." (John 13:14-16)

Now, I'm not telling you that you have to go and wash each others' feet. Because honestly, that's not my cup of tea. But what I am saying is that Christ Jesus humbled Himself so much as to do the dirtiest task. So why are we so afraid to get a little dirt on our hands?

As Christians, if we model ourselves like Christ, we should reach out to others just as Jesus did. Maybe you have someone special in mind. Maybe your challenge will be to find someone in need. Either way, serve others to serve the One who created all things. Now THAT deserves some recognition.