By Laura Springer with Jeff Barnhart
Key Passages: Romans 12:9-13; Ephesians 6:1-9; 1 Peter 4:7-11
Key Idea. God expects all his children, regardless of age or status, to live a life of service. He generously provides divine grace that compels all believers to offer presence and practical action to one another, fueled by overflowing divine love and leading to ongoing, others-focused sacrificial service.
Needs surround us. Sometimes, these needs escape our awareness. Other times, we hesitate or blatantly ignore the needs we see. We may assume that ministry professionals are taking care of the problem. The situation feels too complicated, or we presume everything requires special skills or knowledge. But what if these assumptions are all wrong? What if most ministry opportunities are the everyday acts of love God expects of all his children?
God expects all his children, regardless of age or status, to live lives of service using the knowledge and skills they already have. God places Christians in specific locations and churches, and it is every believer’s duty and honor to move through life and toward Jesus in ways that show his love and grace to those we meet. He has placed us in this village of Torrance and in this local congregation called Torrance First Baptist to carry out specific acts of service. Being service-minded is insufficient because serving is actively loving the person before us or the community surrounding us. Serving combines our know-how as a family of God’s people in this place such that needs are met, disciples are made, and God is glorified. Every believer must open their eyes and hearts to people and events, direct attention to Jesus, and show his love through practical action. It is our honor to love the children of God and followers of Jesus and consider one another more important than ourselves, all for God’s glory.
God's generous provision of divine grace compels believers to offer presence and practical action to one another. Just as God graciously gives us his presence, so are we to bind ourselves to one another, working together as individuals and a church family to serve God where we are by actively loving the people we are with. God’s gift of grace moves us toward one another in Christ-centered mutuality, loving one another as he loves us. God's generous provision of divine grace also compels us to offer practical action. Coming alongside one another is the necessary starting place. Acts of love must follow: we must use the knowledge and skills God has given us to love one another as God has loved us.
God's overflow of divine love fuels ongoing, others-focused sacrificial service. God, who is love, has given us his eternal love, which naturally flows out toward others. We can choose to stop the flow, but God’s love presses upon us and will either break through or break us. Sometimes, we may think that feelings of care are sufficient, but feelings are add-ons. Love is action that works for the good of others, whether we like them, are annoyed by them, or even hate them. It does not put up a false front or display insincere behavior. Love reaches across differences and gives of itself to point others to Jesus. Those who choose to love receive others with affection and invite them in to share life.
God's expectation, provision, and love compel us to serve him by serving others with his resources and in his ways. Ministry is the act of loving others, and God commands each Christian to love. This love is most often the stuff of ordinary life, housed in the mundane and small. Since all those who trust Jesus have been commanded to love others, they have also been called to ministry and are expected to live out that ministry in loving service.
In March, we will look at some of the ways God has equipped his people to follow and love well.
