Burning Question:
Yesterday was Mother’s Day. What’s the best thing about your mother?
Morning Devotional:
I spent over half of my vacation last week completing a long-term home improvement project for my family. It was hard work and it stretched me to my limit physically. I expected the strain on my body, but I was not expecting the mental and emotional stress I would experience as I worked to bring the project over the finish line.
Now don’t get me wrong – I love my family immensely. However, serving them can be really hard. When you’re dealing with difficult interpersonal relationships, when stress levels are high, or when you experience pushback, the task of serving can become overwhelming. Those times also bring with them a loss of focus. We focus on the difficulty it’s causing us and not on the needs of the ones we are trying to serve.
What do you do in those moments? This is where we need to look to Jesus and the model He gives us of true service.
In John 13, we find the story of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. This act was usually carried out by a servant, but Jesus does it as an example to His disciples and to us. His model of serving others goes even farther when He allows himself to be reviled, tortured and crucified for our sins – even the sins of those who drove the nails into His hands.
Jesus came to serve people who rejected him. We are going to be rejected as well, but Christ’s example shows us that it is not a reason to quit serving. Thankfully, He gives us the grace we need to do what He has called us to do and be who He desires us to be – a people willing to lay their lives down to serve others, in service to our King.
– Beth
Bible Quiz:
Question: According to Revelation, which of the seven churches in Asia did the Lord say that he had set before it an open door no one could shut?
Answer: Philadelphia (Revelation 3:8)
Storytime: I found Morels!