The question that spoke loudly to my heart was not "Who do you Serve," to me it was a question of "Why" do you serve. So many times we serve out of obligation and need. There is a class that needs to be taught, a nursery that needs a worker, a doctor's visit, the yard needs to be mowed...these are all areas of service. It all has to be accomplished and positions have to be filled. So, again the question is "Why" do you serve.
"And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things." Mark 6:34
We should be serving out of a heart for the Lord. Our love for him gives us compassion. Compassion is defines as "deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering." It's not simply feeling pity or sorrow for someone, or something. It is being MOVED to helping better the situation. When we focus on our Savior and His desires for us, the nursery is full of adults that have compassion for for infants and toddlers. Our prison ministries are filled with people who genuinely desire to meet the inmates where they are and to show compassion. The drug addicted mother of 5 doesn't feel shunned because she sees the Love of Christ in us. The man that stinks up the town from his odor, is offered a shower because we are moved to better his situation. Our friends and families will feel genuinely loved and cared for. We begin to see past the FLESH so we can meet the needs of those we encounter in our daily lives.
We care for people in a different manner when our care taking stems from the place of loving our Lord, from his heart of compassion toward the hurting.
I pray that I can extend genuine compassion toward others I encounter along this journey.
