Finding God in the World

Soon we go to intentionally serve our neighbors.  We are compelled to do this for many different reasons.  Often, our compulsion comes simply because it is the “right thing to do.”  We must be wary of this notable and laudable reason for serving others.  We don’t love because it’s “moral.”  (Check out 1 John 4.7 and beyond)

The World (those outside of a faith relationship with Christ) does.  They love because they “should.”  The serve because it’s “right.”  Individuals, non-government agencies and government programs help those in need.  They are doing the “right” thing.  But internally and eternally (and this must be our perspective) it means nothing and is very much the blind leading the blind.

What we need to consider right now is that we are called to love not because people need love but because it is a commandment that Christ gave us which flows directly from our fundamental commitment to loving God (Love God/Love Others: See Dueteronomy 6, Matt. 22, Mark 12 and Luke 10).  God is the reason for and the foundation of the love/service.  Our response to God’s love to us is this: love Him back and then love others.  We don’t serve because it’s moral or because people need us to serve; we do so because God revealed Himself as a loving servant and our response is to reflect both His presence in our lives and seek His presence in the lives of those being served.

We often miss that He is not only in the service but also that He wants us to serve so that we find Him in it.  In giving ourselves to Him first, the desire comes to give ourselves to others.  In giving ourselves to serve others we find Him more and more because He works through and in us and around the ones being served.  Notice that He is the essential ingredient in it all, His work in us and His work to bring the served to Himself. (Take a look at John 17.23-26)

Serving others is the outward expression of God’s love in our lives and is the response to God’s love around the lives of others.  He is in us but He is also outside of us and in the places where we have formerly feared to tread.  We find ourselves in those formerly feared, unknown places with those formerly feared and unknown people and the only hope we have is to take God to them and to find God already in their midst.  Our reason for serving is Christ’s call to love.  Our reward in serving is finding God more and more.  He is calling us to Himself in service and it is He whom we discover as we serve.

Questions to ask as you go:

Where are you, God, in the malaise of humanity into which I am throwing myself?

I will find myself in some different situations with people I don’t know.  Will you help me, Lord, to see you at work in them and to be sensitive to how I can respond to your presence in me and around them?

How does your Kingdom come and your will be done in the midst of those who don’t believe in Christ?