the_pathway_of

"But to each of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it . . . to prepare God's people for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."

Ephesians 4:7,12,13, NIV

To those who love Christ and follow in His steps of service to others, Jesus offers the highest reward: "Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." Matthew 25:34-36, NIV.

The society we live in is full of such needs, and everyone can have a part in doing something when we are walking and working with Christ. We can begin with our friends and neighbors and extend kindness to all we come in contact with. There is no service that will bring greater joy and peace to us as that of bringing God's joy and peace to others.

Jesus calls us the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world." (See Matthew 5:13, 14.) He calls us to be "salt" and "light" to all we meet as we walk and work with Him. He instructs us to "be dressed, ready for service and keep your lamps burning." Luke 12:35, NIV. We can brighten the corner of the world where we are, whether it is at home, work, or church. We can visit the sick in the hospital or nursing home, sympathize with the sorrowful, keep a smile when others frown, listen to those with heavy burdens and encourage them in God's love, comfort the sick, encourage a child, be forgiving, love the unloving and the seemingly unloveable, pray for our enemies, feed the hungry, keep our conversation clean. We can do all of these things when our hearts and minds are in tune with the heart and mind of Christ.

Jesus was constantly giving of Himself in service to those around Him. Lawyers, rabbis, and priests -- professionals of all kinds, and ordinary people such as you and I all benefited from Christ's giving spirit. He never ceased to minister to those who needed council and help.

The human heart is the same everywhere. It doesn't matter what our profession, race, sex, or age is. Whether we are healthy or sick, rich or poor, we all need to experience the love and acceptance of God and the sacrifice He provided as a free gift to each of us. We need to experience His forgiveness and know that with God's help we can triumph over the evils of this world. And we need to share that experience with those whom God places in our path. Service to humanity is the key that unlocks the door to happiness in this life.

Only the awareness of the forgiveness and the love of Christ can give us victory over sin and assurance of peace and security. When we gain that awareness we gain the desire to share it with others, just as Jesus did.

When Saul, the Pharisee, encountered Christ on the road to Damascus, he said, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" Acts 9:6, KJV. After he became Paul the Apostle, he referred to himself as a bond servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, and he was foremost among the followers of Jesus in the service of Christ and humanity.

We are saved to serve and when we dedicate our lives to walk with Christ in service we say with Paul, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20, KJV.

No one is so weak or disabled that he does not have a place in God's service. We each have God-given talents and abilities. When we offer them to be used in His service, we will one day hear the familiar words of our Savior: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant. . . enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." Matthew 25:21, 23, KJV.

Jesus, our Lord, was the greatest example of service to humanity. He comforted the weary, the poor, and the widows. He had compassion on the destitute and downhearted. He healed everyone who simply asked and believed He could heal them. He fed multitudes of hungry people who followed Him to hear His teachings. He forgave the sins of thieves and adulterers. He washed the feet of the one who betrayed Him. He forgave the ones who crucified Him.

Jesus said, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." John 12:32, KJV. The love of Christ is the only influence in the world that can take bitterness and hatred out of the heart and replace it with love for God and man. It is difficult to fathom Jesus dying on the cross for the sins of the world and hear Him as He breathes His last breath with forgiveness on His lips. He holds no bitterness in his heart against those who crucified Him. He enables us to forgive as He forgave. No one can understand the true meaning of the cross and cherish hatred.

When Christ went back to heaven after He arose from the tomb He gave gifts or talents to his followers so they could continue the church He had started. He gave to some the talent of church leadership and ministery. Others He made teachers, evangelists, musicians, builders of churches. There are many, many talents. Everyone has a talent that can be used in service as we walk and work with Christ.

The way we live and treat others is often the best sermon anyone can give.

To be. . .

loving and sympathetic,

forgiving and tolerant,

respectful and supportive. . .

To serve as spiritual advisors,

To build bonds of fellowship and brotherhood. . .

These all follow Christ's example of service to others. We are each one called to show God's love and compassion to our fellow humans. This is what God's service is all about.