Galatians 5:13-14
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 20:25-28
Jesus called them together and said, “You know the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give His life as a ransom for many.”
Devotion
In his commentary on Galatians, J.V. McGee writes, “There are three methods of trying to live the Christian life—two of them will not work. One is a life of legalism, which Paul has been discussing. The other is the life of license, which Paul discussed in Romans chapter six. The third method of living the Christian life is the life of liberty as we serve one another in love.” In verse 14, Paul summarizes his thoughts into one simple statement: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Once again, we see that love is the key. This time Paul connects love with serving others.
In Matthew chapter twenty, Jesus told His disciples, “Whoever wants to become great among you must become a servant.” Jesus then used His life as an example: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give His life a ransom for many.” Jesus modeled what it meant to serve one another in love. This truly was a new concept for His disciples. This was a new approach to service and greatness. Jesus makes it clear the the way to be great and the way to serve Him is to take the lowest place. In essence, He is telling His disciples to model their lives after Him.
So, what does this look like in authentic Christian community? The best leaders serve others in love as an example to those around them. True Christian fellowship will be marked by humility and a willingness to serve in every and any ministry situation. Humility is the key to serving one another in love. This mindset comes from understanding our position in Christ. I am a son of the Most High God because of what Jesus did for me. I did not earn my sonship. It was a gift from God. Therefore, I must always be mindful of what Christ has done for me and be willing to humble myself, just as Jesus humbled Himself and became obedient to death on a cross. True Christian community will be marked with humility and the willingness to serve one another in love.
Questions to Ponder
What does “serving one another in love” look like for you? Do you struggle with humility? If so, why? Are you modeling servant leadership in your home? Workplace? Community? Church?
Spend some time in prayer meditating on what God revealed to you today.