Serving is at the heart of Jesus’ ministry. Making the connection between Jesus feeding 5,000 and setting up food pantries and soup kitchens is easy. Connecting serving with Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman, his taking time for children, or his comforting of friends Martha and Mary move us beyond charitable activities to relationships.
Jesus calls us to think differently about how and why we serve others—not merely “doing for” or picking and choosing who gets our attention and when. Serving as Jesus serves brings us closer to Jesus, the one who did not come to be served but to serve.
This message was adapted from the “Lessons for Today’s Disciples” resource written by Valora K Starr and available as a free downloadable PDF in both English and Spanish. Today on Veteran’s Day, we remember Martin, Bishop of Tours, who died in 397; and Soren Aabye Kierkegaard, teacher, who died in 1855. We also observe #NationalSundaeDay, so buy your favorite veteran an ice cream.
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