“Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.” John 12:26
A recent devotion from Pastor Ken Klaus shared a brief story of Helen Roseveare who was a missionary to the Congo. During her years serving our Lord in the Congo her faith had been challenged many times and she was often physically brutalized. She shared the following observation "There is no cost in following Jesus" and added “there is only privilege."
The young girl in the attached photo attends school at Bon Berger Lutheran School in Caredeux and she has been given a high honor by her teacher. Entrusted to her is the task of bringing a tray with noon lunches to the children in her class. It may not seem like much of an honor but this child will not spill one drop of food while taking it to children who will have nothing else to eat on this day.
We should consider serving Christ as more of an honor. Helping to support the noon meal at Bon Berger is an honor as we serve our Lord with our treasures. Although being His servant is a free will choice each of us can make on our own, we should embrace the opportunity to humbly follow Him and serve Him. We should be eager at having the opportunity to be Christ’s servant here in our home town, across the State, in the Congo or in Haiti. Serving Him is such a wonderful privilege.
We should not walk our Christian path in a spirit of pride or ego as all the Glory is His. Thank you for sharing your blessings and bringing a plate of hope to the children in Caredeux. The hymn “Let us ever walk with Jesus” by Sigismund von Birken (1653) is a great reminder of the honor of walking with and following our Savior.
“Let us ever walk with Jesus, follow His example pure. Flee the world, which would deceive us and to sin our souls allure. Ever in His footsteps treading, body here, yet soul above, full of faith and hope and love. Let us do the Father's bidding. Faithful Lord, abide with me; Savior, lead, I follow Thee. Let us suffer here with Jesus, to His image, e'er conform; Heaven's glory soon will please us, sunshine follow on the storm. Though we sow in tears of sorrow, we shall reap with heavenly joy; and the fears that now annoy shall be laughter on the morrow. Christ, I suffer here with Thee; there, oh, share Thy joy with me! Let us also die with Jesus. His death from the second death, from our soul's destruction, frees us, quickens us with life's glad breath. Let us mortify, while living, flesh and blood and die to sin; and the grave that shuts us in shall but prove the gate to heaven. Jesus, here I die to Thee there to live eternally. Let us gladly live with Jesus; since He's risen from the dead, death and grave must soon release us. Jesus, Thou art now our Head, we are truly Thine own members; where Thou livest, there live we. Take and own us constantly, faithful Friend, as Thy dear brethren. Jesus, here I live to Thee, also there eternally.”
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay