Daily Devotional January 4, 2021

Fifteen years ago, I was new to Temple.  The first week I was here, a pastor from a nearby church stopped by the church office to introduce herself.

Our church sponsored her church’s Thursday lunches by allowing them to use the kitchen and host a meal that was their primary source of income.  The homemade food was incredible. 

As the pastor began to tell me of the problems her church was experiencing, she said, “I did not go to seminary to serve Mexican food.”  That was the moment I realized she had completely missed the boat.

For those who take the vows of ordination, there is nothing beneath us.  We do whatever it takes because everything is of equal service in the eyes of God.  But it’s not just clergy that conform to this standard.

Everyone who calls Jesus, Lord and Savior is called to the same standard.  Nothing is beneath us.  Our model is Jesus.

Jesus was here to serve God.  His life demonstrated that nothing was beneath him.  He touched lepers, ate with sinners, associated with the dregs of society, taught incredibly hardheaded people, loved the loveless, experienced ridicule, rejection, and torture, and an undeserved death.  Jesus did whatever it took.

Paul taught the Philippians this radically different way of viewing every aspect of life, by saying, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
  rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
  And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!”  (Philippians 5:5-8)

Jesus was here to serve.  And if it was good enough for Jesus, it is good enough for us.

Prayer:  Dear Gracious Heavenly God, I offer myself to you without reservation or hesitation.  Please use me for your purpose.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

When you see an opportunity to serve, know that nothing is beneath you.  Just do it.

Also, the pastor who objected to serving Mexican food, left the church a few months after we met.  I pray she’s found a way to serve God.

And now that I’ve had a moment to think about it, I would love to serve God by serving Mexican food.  And with each plate I served, I would have a little snack.  I’d weigh 800 pounds, but I’d be happy.  That would be an awesome way for me to serve God.

But until God calls me to serve Mexican food, I’ll continue to preach, teach, write devotionals, and serve as one of the pastors of our church.  THIS is an awesome way for me to serve God.

I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.
Tom Robbins