Servant-hood lies at the heart of true greatness. What? Hold on a second. Didn’t you mean to say bravado, courage or super-sized intelligence lie at the heart of true greatness? As good as those things can be, no. Jesus’ disciples were jockeying for positions of prestige. Seeing what was going on, he gave them a … Continue reading True greatness
serving
A helping hand
All this week we’ve been thinking about Jesus’ words in Luke 6:31: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” This verse takes a second to say, and a life-time to try to live out. But since these worthy words are from the lips of King Jesus, it’s definitely a noble and … Continue reading A helping hand
Powerless and vulnerable
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27). This is a teaching by James, an influential leader in the early church. Last week I highlighted what he meant by being … Continue reading Powerless and vulnerable
How will we judge ourselves?
Why do bad things happen? Well, in certain situations that’s an easy question to answer. For example, if we drive carelessly and hurt ourselves in an accident the reason is because we were driving carelessly. But there are other times when an explanation isn’t so easy. But do you know what? Even when we don’t … Continue reading How will we judge ourselves?
Being useful makes you more content
I think we’re spiritually constructed to want to be useful. When someone we know is going through something difficult, how many of us have thought or said something like, “If only there was something I could do to help” or “I just want to be useful”? In a broader sense, you probably feel a strong … Continue reading Being useful makes you more content
Simply showing up
Yesterday I talked about being useful, and asked you this question: How can we be useful to Jesus as his hands and feet in a hurting world by being proactive about the well-being of others? Usefulness is the hands and feet of faithfulness. Sometimes these opportunities to be useful arise through specific initiatives or programs … Continue reading Simply showing up
The means to live (but no meaning to live for)
Holocaust survivor, neurologist and psychiatrist Victor Frankl said that, “Ever more people today have the means to live, but no meaning to live for.” He was referring to what I call the crisis of purpose. I think it’s a huge part of the general malaise and apathy which can seep into so many people’s minds … Continue reading The means to live (but no meaning to live for)
Reverse gravity
You want to serve. But things in life are already weighing you down. But what if helping others actually made you feel... lighter?
This might make me Mr Unpopular
You want to serve and help others. But you're just too busy. Or are you? (Maybe you should just tell your excuses to Greg.) Read on...
What you give up God fills up
You know that serving and helping others is a good thing. But it leaves you tired. So is it worth it? I think so. And here's why.
The Up Devotional 