Brethren in Christ Core Value # 7:

SERVING COMPASSIONATELY

“WE VALUE SERVING OTHERS AT THEIR POINT OF NEED,
FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF OUR LORD JESUS.”

Have you noticed at your church...there’s the lady who has had a tough week and really wants to be in the worship service, but, instead, serves in the nursery, hugs that screaming baby, and calms her down? Or that amazing guy who instead of sleeping in, gets up at 6:30 AM and comes to the rental facility long before the coffee maker is plugged in to set up for worship and classes? Another stayed until 1:00 PM to help take-down and was late for the family reunion. The barbeque chicken was all gone, but as he bit into a cold hot dog, he remembered someone said they really appreciated his help. The Smith’s opened their home for a small group. It really wasn't that convenient with all the busy family activities, and someone spilled their juice on the carpet. The stain is there as a permanent reminder. But, that very evening, Joe shared that he was just about to give up, but the prayer, study and support encouraged him to take a new look at what Jesus was up to in his life. Another practiced for weeks to sing a song for worship and when the day came she had such a sore throat that she could hardly talk, not to mention sing. She did it anyway, and no one said anything, but she sensed God’s encouragement in doing what she could for God. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” And Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me,” (Matthew 25:40) God has created us to serve!

I remember a time when I needed a flashlight. I tried to turn it on and it wouldn't work. I hadn't used it in a long time, When I opened it up the batteries had corroded and not only were the batteries ruined, the flashlight was ruined, too. Why? Batteries are made to be used. So are we!

Amazingly, God has called us to partner with Him in the work that He is doing. What God does is somewhat like Michelangelo getting a bunch of elementary school kids, giving them finger-paints and saying, “You add to my painting. Put color up there that I missed.” It’s incredible, yet it is absolutely fulfilling to love and serve God with my heart soul, mind, and strength!

Jesus said that he came to serve and to give. That was his sole purpose in coming. Yet, the way He served was so different than expected. Like the time he performed the duty of a slave in washing his disciples’ feet. Or when he took five barley buns and two sardines and 5,000 people had all you can eat fish and buns. His teaching had the same focus. “Whoever wants to be first, must be the slave of all.” True greatness, Jesus proclaimed by actions and words, is in humble self-denying service. I suppose that is why Andrew Murray said, “As long as I myself am still something, Jesus Christ himself cannot be everything.”

If Jesus Christ is Lord and if we are His followers, then surely our goal and supreme ambition in life is to be utterly immersed and involved in the greatest ministry of the church of Jesus Christ on earth today, serving compassionately. Jesus said to His followers, “My ministry is the pattern for your ministry.” Then He washed their feet. It is a most unlikely picture. The one who is from eternity past and will be throughout eternity future. This is He who spoke the universe into being. The one to whom some day, in the not too distant future, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father. He is the ultimate boss, and He stooped low to serve! Oswald Chambers wrote, “Our Lord did not say to His disciples, “I have had a most successful time on earth. I have addressed thousands of people and been the means of their salvation; now you go and do the same kind of thing.” No, He said, “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”

Clearly, Jesus set the example of compassionate service! Philippians 2: 5 says, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus...who being in very nature, God...made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant...he humbled himself and became obedient to death…”

Because of Him and His ultimate service to us, we follow His example and value serving in Christ.

Bishop John

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