Galatians 5:13 (AMP) For you, my brothers, were called to freedom; only do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the sinful nature (worldliness, selfishness), but through love serve and seek the best for one another.

Out of the abundance of love, it is that we serve. Some have already tuned out just because I have used the word “serve.” This only can be done through the abundance of love that we receive. Why? It is hard to give what you are already lacking in. Did I just call it what it is? Yes, I did.

Romans 12:9-13 (AMP) Love is to be sincere and active [the real thing—without guile and hypocrisy]. Hate what is evil [detest all ungodliness, do not tolerate wickedness]; hold on tightly to what is good. Be devoted to one another with [authentic] brotherly affection [as members of one family], give preference to one another in honor; never lagging behind in diligence; aglow in the Spirit, enthusiastically serving the Lord; constantly rejoicing in hope [because of our confidence in Christ], steadfast and patient in distress, devoted to prayer [continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength], contributing to the needs of God’s people, pursuing [the practice of] hospitality.

The Modern English Version starts off with verse thirteen as, “Let love be without hypocrisy.” Who are we called to serve? This right here says I am to serve the Lord. How can I do that if I omit His people? Does it say it is permitted to only serve your family? This right here says that in the body of Christ we are all members of one family. Can we pose the same question that Jesus was asked when they inquired about who is their neighbor? Who is my family?

Ephesians 2:19-22 (AMP)  So then you are no longer strangers and aliens [outsiders without rights of citizenship], but you are fellow citizens with the saints (God’s people), and are [members] of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the [chief] Cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together, and it continues [to increase] growing into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, set apart, and sacred to the presence of the Lord]. In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Here is what I tell our church, and I personally watch out for, if it is of the flesh (me trying to live) then I am going to have to keep defending it. A defensive person is usually refusing to let go of something that God does not think is beneficial any longer. That is not living in the abundance of His love.

John 12:25-26 (AMP) The one who loves his life [eventually] loses it [through death], but the one who hates his life in this world [and is concerned with pleasing God] will keep it for life eternal. If anyone serves Me, he must [continue to faithfully] follow Me [without hesitation, holding steadfastly to Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]; and wherever I am [in heaven’s glory], there will My servant be also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

Jesus was not too popular when He talked about loving your neighbor, forgiving seventy times seven in a day, serving, taking up their cross, etc. Really any instruction that was not their idea or their ability to live any old way was not popular. Serving when you want something in return is not going to be fulfilling. Serving yourself is not fulfilling, that includes saying that you only serve your family (that is self-serving). Serving only when you feel like it will not be fulfilling. It is out of the abundance of His love that we serve and that is the only way it will be fulfilling. Serving is how we tell the world what love looks like.

Mark 10:45 (AMP) For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.

What about the age-old excuse, ‘my gifting is not serving’? Yes, there are those that have a gift of serving. There are those that have a gift of giving. There are those that have the gift of teaching. However, every one of us should be doing some element of each of these in our lives. Just like it is not the job of the fivefold evangelist to be the only person that ministers the gospel. This is why I am willing to be outside of myself and do for others.

John 15:9-15 (AMP) I have loved you just as the Father has loved Me; remain in My love [and do not doubt My love for you]. If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing. “This is My commandment, that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another, just as I have loved you. No one has greater love [nor stronger commitment] than to lay down his own life for his friends. You are my friends if you keep on doing what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you [My] friends, because I have revealed to you everything that I have heard from My Father. 

There are three different roles God gives us in this new life in Christ. We are adopted in as family, sons and daughters. We are also bond servants, as Paul calls himself over and over again. We are also friends. We all start off as sons and daughters. With deeper revelation of His love, we become servants and willing call ourselves bond servants (willing to do serve in any capacity). This does not diminish our place as sons and daughters, yet it elevates it. Lastly, we become friends. Not in the familiarity way that we do with people today. This is a holy role, and it is out of an abundance of reverence that we get to be called friends.

There was recently a well-known mega pastor that is now serving time in jail for what he had done to some teenage girls years ago in his home. Can God forgive? I believe so, with a truly repented heart. Here is where many in the church have an issue, they do not want him to be restored. If his reason for going through the steps is just to get to the restoration of a pulpit ministry, then I would question his heart motive. To me, he would be of greater testimony of forgiveness is if he would go back in the church and pick up a mop. A leader who will not serve, does not need to be a leader. That is why we watch before promoting. If serving is beneath you, then leadership is beyond you. If you are not wanting to serve, but willing to take a leadership role, then you have missed what God called a servant.

What about Acts chapter six? What about the disciples having men chosen to distribute the food so they could devote themselves to prayer and ministry of the word? Do you think they never gave to the needy after then? Do you think they never served in other capacities? Feeding the widows and orphans was not beneath them, they needed help to fulfill what other areas they served. I do not believe their hearts were not to meet the needs of others when they had the capacity. This would be contradictory to what Jesus lived and taught. They had become out of balance. Serving without abiding leads to burnout. Abiding without serving leads to stagnation. I want to be counted as faithful, even until the last breath that I take. Prayer, reading the Word, spending time in His house and serving one another in brotherly love is part of living in the abundance of His love.

Abba, Father, our Banner, You are worthy of all honor and praise. You are Holy and Marvelous. Thank You for sending Your Son to restore our relationship with You. Through Him we are born again and made new. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit, our Teacher and Friend, and for Your Word. We repent for seeking gifts to build ourselves up and for only participating in the body when it serves our own desires. We are sons and daughters, also Your bondservants to the Gospel. We long to know You more and to be called friend. You reveal Yourself to us in ways beyond our imagination. We are grateful for spiritual gifts, but above all, we thank You for Your love. May we desire Your love above all else. Let us be trees of righteousness. You set the captives free so that we seek fulfillment only in You. We choose surrender today. We choose love today. We choose joy today. We choose forgiveness today. We choose hope today. In Jesus Name, Amen.