Humbly in Love

Galatians 5:13

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

Have you ever been involved in planning and implementing an event? Before retirement, I worked with a team to put together retreats, author visits, and conferences. In my experience, there are usually one or two people in the background who tie up loose ends, pick up the pieces and the trash left on the floor, and make the execution of the event look seamless. 

If you’ve ever gone to a theater production, you know someone created the backdrops, sewed the costumes, and developed the marketing. At the end of a movie, a long list of folks who work in the background scrolls across the screen. Even at home, family members make sure life runs smoothly without drawing attention to themselves. 

God loves the servant’s heart. In Galatians 5, people argued over whether or not to circumcise. Paul said, “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” He encouraged the people to stop arguing and start serving. The Lord wants his followers to meet the needs of others with humble hearts, while glorifying Jesus. What a great blessing to meet needs without the limelight. 

I have friends who minister to senior folks, and they show humility, compassion, and a willingness to help and honor the people they care about. There are areas of my life where God calls me to serve. I love volunteering in the first-grade class my daughter teaches. Those kids remind to be humble by their response when I walk in the room and get all the hugs. It’s rewarding to me to see the joy on their faces.

I praise God for the opportunities to serve.