Tuesday, November 10, 2009

The Transformational Power of Service [Part Two]

When a person serves he is obviously doing something that would directly benefit someone else. This interpersonal relationship is in reality a transaction where both parties are being benefited. Service does not only benefit the person being served but it benefits even more the one who is serving. For the act of service encourages friendship and strengthens already existing friendships. The already existing friendship moves to another level of closeness through the spirit of gratitude. Only in the most extreme cases of selfishness a person who is served is not grateful for the service, especially when the service was performed expecting to receive nothing in return. So the servant is not literally receiving any physical payment back, but instead receives the blessing of a new friend, or a stronger friendship in an already existing friendship. The benefits of the servant are not limited only to establishing or strengthening relationships, but it also allows the servant to be identified with Jesus in that aspect.Every serious Christian has a strong desire for Godliness, Christians strive to please God in everything they do and everything they are. They are always searching for ways by which they can accomplish that. The way to become Godly or Christ like is by imitating God or Christ, since in the Christian World view they are the same person. The task then is to know Christ and to imitate his behavior, it is well known Christ is God Almighty; he has no limitations, yet the one who knows everything, the one who is everywhere, came to this world as a man, as a poor man who was not physically attractive. He came as a slave. He came that way so that he could identify with the needs of the world and with the world itself. He came as a slave so that he could serve them being God Almighty he submitted himself to human authorities so that he could serve them. If a person wants to look like Christ the first step to take, it to be like Christ in relation to His service. Jesus joy was to fulfill the need of the world and receive nothing in exchange. What did He receive in dying on the cross except pain and sorrow. What did he receive from loving Peter but his denial. From loving Judas, but his betrayal; for loving Jerusalem; but his crucifixion. Jesus life is the best example of what it means to doing everything and giving everything in exchange for nothing. The Christian believer has the opportunity of becoming like Christ in his service when they serve and receive nothing in exchange.

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