Free is Not Free

It is the 4th of July weekend, and all across our incredible nation celebrations are taking place. Even in our own community, there will be a huge party celebrating freedom! Yet the freedom we celebrate was not free - it cost. It cost lives, someone’s love, undivided devotion, and selfless acts of service.

Did you know that we are commanded to serve? Jesus was unmistakable and not apologetic in His words to those desiring to follow Him. "Your attitude must be like my own, for I, the Messiah, did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give my life." (Matthew 20:28 LB). For a follower of Christ, service is not something to be tacked onto our schedules if we can spare the time. It is the heart of the Christian life. Jesus came "to serve" and "to give"— and these two verbs should define our life on earth.

Jesus taught that spiritual maturity and growth is never an end in itself. Maturity is an opportunity for service to minister! We grow up in order to give. It is not enough to keep learning more and more. We must act on what we know and practice what we claim to believe. Study without service leads to spiritual stagnation.

Before we feel the urge to go to another Bible study or spiritual meeting, I encourage you to find a place to give out what you have. We already know far more than we are putting into practice. What we need are serving opportunities in which we can exercise our spiritual muscles. Serving is the opposite of our natural inclination. Most of the time we're more interested in "serve us" than service. We say, "I'm looking for a church that meets my needs” not, "I'm looking for a place to serve and be a blessing."

The mature follower of Jesus moves from asking, "Who's going to meet my needs?" and starts asking, "Whose needs can I meet?”