Daily Devotions based on the Sermon Series: “Thoroughly Equipped”
Week 2 of 4: “Grace that Saves Us!”
Full Sunday message: CONTEMPORARY or TRADITIONAL
THIS WEEK: Jesus’ Teaching on his 2nd Coming!
Many of us go through life without much recognition. We don’t win a Most Valuable Player award. We don’t receive a Medal of Honor. We don’t win a high profile public election. (If you have, congratulations!)
We live life.
A friend needs help moving; we show up and load or unload the truck. Our child is sick; we willingly stay up all night to make sure they are OK. We see a homeless person on the corner; we share a water bottle and granola bar. A hurricane creates a need for food and basic supplies; we gather at the local municipal airport to load planes with supplies to get to them. We see a customer that has extra questions; we patiently answer every one of them.
Some may say, “All in a day’s work.”
For a Christian, it is just all part of our life of faith. Serving Jesus by serving others.
We are not looking for the “MVC” (Most Valuable Christian) Award. We are not looking for a special seat at church. We are not even looking for people to serve us back. Because we are just living and serving – it is what happens when a heart has been affected by the love of Jesus.
It is not always easy. It is not always comfortable. It is not always convenient.
But we do it, but not for recognition or reward. So, imagine what it will be like when this happens:
Matthew 25:34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 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, 36 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.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
To be praised by the King of kings and Lord of lords for loving and serving people? What a surprise! We are not keeping score or asking God to tally our good efforts and overlook our bad, we are simply living as God has made us to be…his children, his servants, his disciples. We are just doing our duty, like the servant in Jesus’ story:
Luke 17:7 “Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? 8 Would he not rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? 9 Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ ”
We live with the confidence our performance has nothing to do with our salvation. Jesus secured that with his perfect life, innocent death and glorious resurrection. We live in the joy of knowing our service is a blessing to others and is seen as works of faith that also serves Jesus. We do it with no expectation of reward or praise, but, then, by grace we are given the highest praise from the one that really matters, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, take the inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”
Apply: Enjoy serving Jesus and others every day…simply out of gratitude for what Jesus has done for you. Be humbled to know Jesus will praise you for it!
Prayer: Thank you Jesus for serving me. I do not praise you enough! Thank you for the opportunity to serve you and others. I am humbled that you would recognize it and bless me through it. AMEN.