Serve one another…

and everything else will fall into its proper place.  It is the most sustainable model for living ever put forth.  Sadly, in this season when we celebrate the birth of the One who came to teach us how to serve one another, the atmosphere is more than a little self serving. The commercialization of this holiday seems to suck the meaning right out of it.  It has become a marketing frenzy of epic proportions, a competition to buy more, get more and have more of way too many useless things.  If Christmas is a celebration His birthday, then why are we the ones getting the gifts?

If we could just learn to live with a mindset to serve one another, each with whatever gift they have been blessed with, we might find that there is enough abundance for everyone to have it all. What we have managed to really screw up is the distribution of the abundance we do have, and we have done that by failing to serve one another.

Just prior to his arrest, Jesus offered to God the Father His prayer for us.  Even while anticipating the agony He knew He was about to face, His prayers were for us and not for Himself.  He prayed that we would be a unified body, and an unmistakable witness to the love the Creator has for the children of His creation.

 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.  I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.”

John 17:20-23 (NLT)

We humans have a tendency to make everything a competition.  When we compete, there must be winners and losers, and let’s face it, our society just doesn’t place much value on losers.  We have lost sight of the basic truth that everyone has something of value to offer, and that the true value of their gift is revealed when it is received by one who needs it.  That is how we can best serve one another.

I was recently blessed with a more vivid understanding of how simple it can be to serve one another while viewing an award winning video produced by Sharon Wright.  She has graciously allowed me to share it with you here.

When we truly serve one another, we recognize the deepest needs in others, and meet them with the resources we have at hand.

Even those with the least of worldly possessions can have a dramatic and positive impact on the life of someone else.  When we walk this earth with a single purpose at our core, to serve on another, our words and actions can reach far beyond our small circle of influence, allowing the love of God to be seen, felt, and heard.  That, indeed, is what Jesus prayed for.

   ^“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”   1 Peter 4:10 (NKJV)

When we serve one another, we are becoming the change we desire.  When we serve one another with joy, we shine the light of Jesus all around us.

So what change do you think we could achieve in this world if we celebrated the birth of Jesus by bringing Him a gift?  The gift that would delight Him most would be for us to make it part of our daily lives to serve one another in small but meaningful ways, to serve on another with joy, to serve one another with grace, to serve one another with our time, our talent, and our treasure.

Friday morning I received a shocking email announcing the death of Pastor Leonardo Diaz, District Superintendent and Pastor of the United Methodist Church in Manzanillo, Cuba.

Pastor Leo at the Pulpit

I First met Pastor Leo when he visited the United States and spoke at Temple Terrace United Methodist Church in Tampa, FL.  I really got to know him on my recent trip to Cuba.  Pastor Leo and his wife led the delegation that met our mission team at the Santiago airport when we arrived, and escorted us all the way to our destination in Niquero.  He was charismatic to say the least… a better description, a character!

At first, the details were sketchy.  We were told a bus collided with his car.  He and his driver were found dead at the scene, his wife was seriously injured.  It was not until Sunday morning that I received an email with more detail.  I wanted to share that message with you because it speaks volumes regarding the faith and perseverance of the Cuban people, and of the final acts of a leader who was loved by many and will be sorely missed.

Pastor Leo lived his faith and gave his witness up to the very moment of death.

The message that follows bears witness to that faith and so much more… (more…)