Friday, March 19th

I gave the summary statement yesterday that the power of serving others is humility in posture and obedience in action. How do you serve those that are close to you? (spouse, friends, parents, siblings).

Husbands, for a moment, let me on you. Ephesians 5 it talks about wives submitting to their husbands. Typically we stop there and say, “yeah, wifey, you need to submit.” Keep reading, Ephesians 5:25- 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her… Christ sacrificed for the church, which means if we are to love our wives in the same way, we look to serve our wives through sacrifice. It is a greater call to serve our wives than our wives submitting to us. How can you serve your wife?

How do you serve those who are different than you? Take a moment with Luke 10:25-37, Parable of the Good Samaritan. Two were not willing to serve and one, who was different, was willing to serve.

Where in the church, the body of Christ, can you serve? We read in staff meeting this week, Matthew 9:36-38- 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

We are asking the Lord of the harvest to send workers out into the fields, to send you out to those in our church to serve. If you want to sign up to serve, start here https://newlifeplymouth.com/serve

Christian Philosopher, Peter Kreeft had a cartoon on his door of two turtles. One turtle said: "Sometimes I would like to ask why God allows poverty, famine and injustice when he could do something about it." The other turtle replies: "I am afraid that God might ask me the same question."

We want God to do something about our world, our community, our lives and God is agreeing with you, go and serve. The power of serving others is humility in posture and obedience in action, it starts with you.

May you be encouraged and challenged by this benediction which was written by Richard Halverson, former pastor of Fourth Presbyterian Church in Bethesda, Maryland and also the former chaplain of the United States Senate. It reflects his deep conviction that his church was not only where the congregation met on Sundays, but at each place where they lived and worked through the week.

“Wherever you go, God is sending you. Wherever you are, God has put you there. God has a purpose in your being right where you are. Christ, who indwells you by the power of his Spirit, wants to do something in and through you. Believe this and go in his grace, his love, his power. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen”