Every year we have a Creative Arts Camp where several churches band together and put on a week-long camp with 200 volunteers. Everyone that worked always takes away a sense of how good God is! We were so busy and worked so hard! The Lord had great plans for us and for each student! They were each somehow blessed by their presence at the event.
As believers, we are called to reflect the servitude of Jesus Christ, who came not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. He is the ultimate servant showing His love by giving His life. At our event we had a lot of cost—not only financial, but mental, emotional and physical—all of which were used by God on levels that were unseen. While we may not fully comprehend the exact impact for the Kingdom, we can rest assured it will be significant.
John 15:5 – “I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (NASB) Some translations substitute the word “remain” with “abide”. Both are appropriate and important. They each carry with them an urgency to be with, and stay close to, the Father at all times. My prayer for each of us is to remember how much we relied on the Lord to provide what we needed to get through Creative Arts Camp experience.
Billy Graham once said, “The highest form of worship is the worship of unselfish Christian service.” Our service does not stem from obligation but from willing hearts. God says, He has given us a mission, He has given us a specific charge. Our response should never be, “If I have to go to church, I will,” “If I have to love the people around me, I will,” or “If I have to be sacrificial, I will.” Giving out of a place of willingness is a sign of understanding how much Jesus did for us. A person that understands this will desire to serve no matter what the circumstance. We, as the church, are great examples to our community and to our children because we often answer the call to serve in this way. The Lord is pleased with our service and sacrifice.
If we don’t serve willingly, it can raise questions about our understanding of salvation and its true cost. Truly grasping what Jesus did for us and what He saved us from should lead us to respond with, “Whatever You ask, Jesus,” “Whatever Your Word says, Jesus,” and “Whatever You’ve called me to, Jesus.” Our posture should be one of complete readiness and obedience to His call to serve. This, however, doesn’t mean that serving will be a walk in the park. Often, it is not. But, God’s call to serve comes with support from the Almighty Himself! (See Heb. 6:10, Isa. 41:10, Ps. 121:2, Eph. 4:1-12)
Humility is crucial in our service. 1 Peter 5:5 teaches us that humility is a mark of spiritual maturity. A life surrendered to the Savior will look sacrificial, embodying service to others. When we are humble, we mirror our Savior, living a life that looks like it belongs to Jesus.
It’s easy to attend church, listen to sermons, and engage in worship, thinking primarily about how it benefits us. However, we are called to surrender our lives to Christ and serve with purpose beyond the pew. Our faith is not just about personal comfort but about moving outward and humbling ourselves to serve those around us in everyday life, just as Jesus did.
Thank you for your sacrificial service to your community, which has moved lives closer to Jesus and removed veils of misunderstanding for some. Let’s continue this spirit of humility and service, confident that we can do nothing without Christ. Our efforts, grounded in faith and love, are advancing the Kingdom in ways that are largely unknown to us. May we always remain in Christ, eagerly responding to His call with joy and obedience. Together, as instruments of His peace and ambassadors of His love, we are making a meaningful impact on our world with hearts dedicated to service.
“Then he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.’” Luke 9:48 (NIV)
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