Service Calls

June 24

(Luke 13:20-21 NIV)  ““Again he asked, "What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? {21} It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.””

(John 13:1-17 NIV)  "It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. {2} The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. {3} Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; {4} so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. {5} After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. {6} He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" {7} Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." {8} "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." {9} "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" {10} Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." {11} For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. {12} When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. {13} "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. {14} Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. {15} I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. {16} I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. {17} Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy uttered the famous words: “Ask not what your country can do for you -- ask what you can do for your country”. Presidents don’t talk like this anymore. This principle has been forsaken and forgotten. These days you win elections by promising to take care of people, not by admonishing them to do something for others. But the call of Christ is different. He calls us to serve others and ask what we can do for the church. Yeast works through bread dough and causes the whole loaf to rise up. Christ wants his church to affect the world in similar fashion. Jesus commands those who bear His name to serve others in a way that ministers to them and lifts them up. This principle is found throughout scripture. It’s a non-negotiable with God. The kingdom of God does not exist to serve us. We exist to serve the kingdom. Service calls! Will you answer the call? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day