Service
Not physically, but spiritually.
Still thinking.
Still remembering.
Still pondering.
And pieces of last week's Monday Morning Inspiration linger in my spirit.
I'm thinking about service.
For her graduation gift, Lyric asked me to help her move to China. I agreed. But instead of hearing "help her move to China" I heard vacation. A getaway. Relaxation. So, I was deeply disappointed initially when she spent all her time at orientation, meeting with supervisors and preparing for her new life. Then I discovered my purpose: I was there to help her. and things changed.
That was last week's MMI: seeking God for purpose.
This week, it's service.
See, my whole perspective and attitude changed when I found my purpose. I'd known it all along, but I had a different agenda, my own plan. Once I sought God, however, I realized my purpose was to serve Lyric. It was a very humbling thought. And I had to fight with my flesh to accept this.
The trip wasn't about me, me, me.
It was always and only about Lyric.
She had every right to be gone all day.
She had every right to be tired in the evenings.
She had every right to be overwhelmed and irritated with me, my boundless energy and desire to sightsee.
Because I was there for her.
So often, we forget we are called to serve one another. But in it's most basic and sincere form, a call to Christ is a call to serve. And I'm not talking about just helping the less fornunate and needy. In some regards that's easier when you consider our calling, our purpose, is to serve one another in our daily relationships.
That's what Christ did for us.
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is the Risen Savior. Our King and Our Lord. He always was, is. and will be. There is no other name under heaven by which men can call upon to be saved EXCEPT the name of Jesus. He is majesty. He is royalty. Yet, he chose to deny himself all these thing in order to serve us. That we may know God.
The word of God says Jesus came to serve and not to be served, meaning he knew who He was and whose He was and that he held all power in heaven and hell. He understood that he had a right to reign on earth just as he did in heaven. Yet, he chose a lowly and humble existence. He chose to be an outcast, hated, reviled and sentenced to death - for me. For you. For us. Because he came to serve.
In John 13: 1-7, Jesus knows that His hour has come. He knows He's been betrayed. He knows He has come from the Father and he is about to return to the Father. He knows he is about to be scorned, spat upon and beaten. He knows He is about to die. But He does something odd. He chooses to wash his disciples feet. He chooses NOT to command all power in heaven and earth and under the sea to come to His rescue, but to wash His servants feet.
Wow. Do you know the measure of restraint that required? The internal fortitude? The all out grit and determination? But he was able to do it because He knew it was his hour (purpose) and He knew from whom He came and to whom He was going (position, passion, power and favor).
That's some stuff. Real stuff. And it's impossible without the gifting of the Holy Spirit.
But Jesus did it for us - and we are called to do so for others. When were are in honest, God-ordained, purposeful relationships, we are called to set aside self and serve one another. (I give this caveat because too many of us exist in wrong relationships and we're serving the wrong things; our flesh, our fetishes, our feelings... .)
In the office, what is your purpose and how can you serve?
With your husband, what is your purpose and I how can you serve him?
With your wife, what is your purpose and how can you serve her?
With your child, what is your purpose and how can you serve him/her?
So often, we - I - get caught up in what people can do for me. What they can give me emotionally. Honestly? I want a husband so I can sit on the passenger side and just ride. Seriously? I want a husband because I hate taking out the trash. And because I want someone to do things with. And I want someone to pay the bills. And someone to ...
Basically, I want a servant with a trust fund.
Only recently, however, did I start to consider how I can serve the man that God has for me. How can I offer him rest? How can I make our home a hiding place, a respite from the outer world? How can I be his safe place to land - when all else around his is jagged and treacherous?
Same thing with Lyric.
I've got to learn to serve her. Not spoil her - but serve her.
She recently told me all I do is preach at her. I don't want to admit it, but it's probably true. It's not my intent, but it's probably true. My goal, however, is to help her. To keep her from making mistakes I made. To make her better than me. But, apparently I'm going about it wrong. So, I'm praying now about how to encourage and support her versus preaching at her and instructing.
It's not easy - especially when I can just rely on my position of authority in her life and just demand that she do what I say. But that's not service. Right now serving her means finding out what she needs as a young adult to be holy, whole, healthy, safe and secure. She may not even know right now, but that's why she needs her mother to pray - and not just preach to her.
So, this our call to be like Jesus. To serve instead of seeking to be served. To esteem those in our lives better than ourselves. Just like Jesus did for us.
Know that I love you each, L.
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