A few weeks ago Sam Metheny, our Executive Administrator, put out a call to the Partners at Veritas Church for guest writers to be featured on our website and weekly emails. If this is your first time visiting our blog then I encourage you to visit our back catalog! There is some good stuff there by our staff and the other pastors! This is the third article in a three part reflection on Christ-like service, why it is important to develop new Service Teams, and finally why we serve.
[31] When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. [32] If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. [33] Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ [34] A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. [35] By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:31–35 (ESV)
During my time at Veritas Church Jesus has done amazing things in my life, especially in my understanding of service. Early on, I served because I wanted to meet people and make friends. As wonderful as those experiences were, because I am human, I also struggled with sin around my service. Often my sin showed up as pride for what I do, impatience with others, and a sense of being “owed” for my work. It isn’t surprising that I have felt this way, because my “why” for serving was grounded in my own desires. If I had continued to serve only out of my own desire, then I would have never been able to show Jesus’ love through my actions. Jesus has been gracious to me, and He has not allowed those sins to continue. He has radically changed me through His Gospel and the community of other Christians.
John 13:34-35 cannot be clearer, we are to love one another as Jesus loved us, and by this love all people will know we follow Jesus. This command is concise, but it is not a thing we can do alone. Jesus was addressing not just the individual disciples but the whole group. To follow Jesus is to be part of a community led by Him, the Church, locally and universally. Jesus used this community to change me so that I can begin to love others more than myself. I say ‘begin’ because the work is not yet complete, and I still struggle with sin daily. The pattern of a Christian life is one of confession, repentance, and joyful celebration alongside other followers of Jesus!
To fulfill this command we need the power of the Holy Spirit, not just in ourselves but also in others, to shape our lives. Without the Holy Spirit, my brothers, and my sisters, I would forget my one hope in life and death. The greatest way we serve is through a Christ-like life, loving others as Jesus loved us. This is the reason that over the years so many redemption stories begin with Christians loving an unbeliever. No one comes to God, He comes to us, and often it is through a follower of Jesus. The call to serve is the call to love, to share the whole of scripture and God’s redemptive plan.
The reason a follower of Jesus serves is because His love calls us to. That love drives and empowers us in all things. It can be easy to be discouraged by this broken world. That is ok brothers and sisters, but remember our hope is held on high. We serve as ambassadors to an infinite king with all authority in heaven and on earth. One day He will return and our joy will be complete, but right now we get a foretaste of that joy. Join me in service so that together we may taste and see all that Jesus has for us.
I hope these blog posts have encouraged you to join us in serving one another. If you have any comments or questions about how you can serve then you can reach me at trey@veritasfayetteville.com or life@veritasfayetteville.com.
For the fame of Jesus,
Trey Perry
Lay Pastor | Veritas Church