For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:13–14
What I love about Scripture is how Jesus met people exactly where they were. He met a little girl on her death bed, a woman in the middle of a crowd, a man way up in a tree, and a multitude in their hunger—we could go on and on. Even today, God meets us in our sin, shame, and guilt to call us to Himself.
It’s the best story. And because of Jesus, we are free. Free from sin, death, hell, and the grave. I mean that’s pretty exciting news!
And because of our freedom, we are called to something greater—to show love through humbling service toward others.
Service is about getting in the dirt with people who may have stones ready to be thrown their way. It’s about washing the feet of those who might betray you. It’s about meeting people in unlikely places to love them well.
How you serve your neighbor will look different than how you serve your spouse. How you serve your community will look different than how you serve your kids. But the baseline is the same: meet each person where they are.
Paul tells the church at Corinth that he becomes all things to all people that he might save some (1 Cor. 9:19–23). In other words, he learns the needs of the people and adapts himself to serve them where they are.
When we approach service, it should be less about what we’re doing and more about who we’re serving. There are practical ways we can follow the call to feed the hungry, clothe those in need, care for orphans and widows, visit those sick or in prison, as we love every one of our neighbors as ourselves (Matt. 25:35–40).
Step one: know who you’re serving. Get to know them on some level. Maybe you’ll discover their context, their likes or dislikes, or maybe you’ll discover their point of view. But get to know those you are serving. It’s hard to meet people where they are if you don’t know where that is.
Step two: meet them where they are with the love of Jesus that break chains, pursues wholeness, and sits in the messy middle. It might look like a bowl of soup, it might smell like flowers, or it might resemble an embrace. Give them encouraging words and remind them who God created them to be—who He says they are. Meeting people where they are and fulfilling a need is important. It’s also important to remind them of the truth that God loves them more than they could ever imagine. Do both in tandem as you let God lead the way.
Prayer: Jesus, thank You for living a life of service. Your love and care for me makes me want to use my freedom to love others well. Help me live a life knowing others and pointing them to You. May the Holy Spirit lead as I follow each and every day. In Christ’s name, Amen.
Want More?
Read 1 Corinthians 9:19–23 and ponder how we might learn from Paul as we serve others. He says that he became all things to all people that he might save some. Paul intentionally saw people and met them where they were. How might mutual understanding and immersing ourselves in another’s point of view help us reach them as we serve? Think on how being relational and loving furthers the gospel.
