The media is buzzing with Obama and tomorrow's inauguration. Hundreds of thousands of people will descend on Washington today and tomorrow to catch the festivities and hear President Obama's Inaugural Address. Today, Oprah, Dr. Phil and a few of the other over-paid television personalities talked about Obama and the invitation that he's given to Americans to step up to the plate of volunteerism. Obama has even appeared on prime time television spots asking Americans to step up and serve in their local communities. I have to ask myself...what is all the fuss about? Although Obama is calling us to a noble and good cause, is this really new? Is the invitation a fresh and new cause or is it an ancient calling?
Although I love the recent emphasis that Obama and America is placing on serving other people and volunteering in their community, I have to give credit where credit is due. Jesus is the One who has called humanity to this grand cause of servant hood and to give up our rights for the rights of other people. Jesus is the One who modeled selfless living in the eye of adversity and consistently made the mark of "true living" (Christianity) about self-sacrifice and service. If Jesus (and not Obama) called us to this lifestyle, our life ought to be one giant outpouring of love and service to those that need it the most.
I love to see people serve. There's nothing more exciting than serving another human being, but it's equally exciting when you watch a person in the act of servant hood. I saw this several years ago with a junior high student from our church. This student was walking out of the church on a Sunday with his father when he noticed the tires on a specific truck were bald. The son, recognizing the need and being moved to action, approached his father and said that he wanted to purchase four new tires for the owner of this vehicle. The smart father knowing that the owner of the truck didn't have a lot of money and wanting to foster servant hood in his soon helped his son purchase these four new tires. The junior high student picked up the tab on the tires. Now this is servant hood!
I see servant hood in the life of our missionaries who work with the denomination that I belong to (www.cmalliance.org). They are fearless, selfless and serve with very little recognition. Now this is servant hood. They move to foreign countries, learn a foreign language, become acquainted with a foreign culture (and they make very little money). This is servant hood.
I have some friends who live lives of servant hood. They live on 50% of their income while they give the other 50% away to Christ's Kingdom work. What selfless love. What sacrifice. They do this because they love. They do this because obedience and servant hood have become the anthem of their lives. Their servant hood is to be applauded.
I can't think of a better way to take up Christ's call to be servant's than to serve the poor, the oppressed, the hurting, the disenfranchised, the lonely, the widows, the orphans and the alienated. Our world is filled with a myriad of opportunities to serve the underprivileged and unfortunate. Our communities are loaded with opportunities to feed, touch, clothe and help the hurting. This is what Jesus wants. This is what Jesus requires.
Although I respect President-elect Obama's passionate plea for Americans to hold the mantle of servant hood, my mind goes back to the words of the Apostle Paul in Galations 5:13, "serve one another in love". Servant hood is empty and futile unless it is motivated by the love of Jesus Christ. Our hours of volunteering in our churches and communities have very little effect, unless they come from a deep desire to see people encounter the unconditional love of their Creator. Now this is servant hood. When we let go of our desire for trophies, recognition and accolades and instead do acts of service out of our love for Jesus and our fellow-man, individuals become changed, communities are changed and eventually our world will be changed. Make no mistake about it though, it starts with Jesus and His love and how this love can be spread through a simple act of service.
What about you? Do you have a neighbor that needs their driveway shoveled? Do you know of a widow that could use a dozen cookies along with some conversation? Do you have an extra $32.00 a month to sponsor a child through Compassion International (www.compassion.com)? What about offering that student who walks to school every day a ride? Don't complicate this and whatever you do, don't do nothing. Do something. Do it now!
Go Serve!!!
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