Jesus Boot Camp: Service → Alice V. Walters

*************************
service: contribution to the welfare of others
*************************

Mama loved caring for and nursing people. She never seemed happier than when she was serving others, but she told me one time of a nursing task she just couldn’t bring herself to do.

My Aunt Roz was a school teacher in the tiny town where I was born. Daddy’s family all lived close by, and everyone helped out with whatever needed to be done.

Back in the day, the old and the infirmed were kept in the home as long as possible. Granddaddy was a farmer, and when his second wife, Aunt Cora developed diabetes he needed help tending to her.

Mama never said why, but she just couldn’t do it. Her servant’s heart and hands couldn’t get it together. That’s when Aunt Roz stepped up.

South Georgia heat and humidity start creeping up in April. And in the 1950s no one had air-conditioning. Nevertheless, every morning Granddaddy helped Aunt Cora get dressed, including hose and shoes.

And every day after school Aunt Roz came by to gently wash sticky diabetic urine from Aunt Cora’s feet and legs. Dear Reader, just thinking of such tender service makes me want to cry.

A week before Christmas, my Aunt Roz went to be with Jesus. Jesus knew about foot washing, didn’t He? I’ll bet He gave His child a hug, a handshake, a high five, and a fist bump as soon as she entered His presence.

“Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’
Matthew 25:37-40 MSG

Mazlow didn’t have anything over on Jesus. Jesus knew the momentum of spreading the Gospel began with service. It’s hard to listen when your stomach is growling. The only way His disciples were going to make an impact was to minister to the body before trying to minister to the soul.

Jesus did more than teach and preach about compassion and service. Over and over in the gospels, His acts of service are recounted.

As he went ashore he saw a great throng; and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick.
Matthew 14: 14 RSV
(See also Matthew 9:36, 15:32; Mark 6:34, 8:2; Luke 7:13.)

Dear Reader, Jesus equips us as believers through God’s Word and the power of the Holy Spirit. His calling doesn’t stop there.

When we choose to obey and commit to His calling, when we rest in the assurance and revelation He provides for us, and collaborate with other believers, we become empowered as leaders to serve Him through serving others.

I know you’re out there doing amazing acts of service, Dear Reader. Maybe you don’t think they’re a big deal, just the right thing to do. You may not be doing them for any kind of recognition, but our Heavenly Father still sees, and I’ll bet He’s already looking for a special way to love all over you for your gift of service.