
Mission Sent
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Mission Sent
Serving Others: Jesus's Blueprint for Selflessness
The radical call to service lies at the heart of Jesus's teachings, yet it remains one of the most challenging aspects of Christian living. Why? Because putting others before ourselves contradicts our natural human inclinations toward self-preservation and self-interest.
Drawing from Romans 12:7, "If service, in our serving," we explore how service isn't merely one spiritual gift among many—it's fundamental to following Jesus. While our natural state can be summed up in one word—selfishness—Jesus calls us to a complete transformation. As John writes, "By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers." This isn't abstract theology; it's practical discipleship.
The message powerfully contrasts our cultural obsession with fairness against Jesus's example of unfair sacrifice. When we complain about serving others because it feels "unfair," we forget that Jesus received no fairness in his trial or crucifixion. He who created and sustained the very wood of the cross chose to serve humanity at the greatest personal cost, without complaint or hesitation.
In a captivating illustration, we see how Chick-fil-A built a business empire through prioritizing service—demonstrating that even in secular contexts, serving creates value. This aligns with psychological research showing that serving others leads to greater wellbeing and purpose in life. What Jesus commands isn't just spiritually right; it's the path to human flourishing.
The challenge stands: How will you serve others this week? How will you put yourself last so that others might be lifted up? As Jesus said, "If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." When we embrace this counterintuitive wisdom, we not only become more like Christ—we discover the purpose for which we were created.
All right. Well, this week I'll go ahead and tell you we are only doing like one sentence, all right, and it's a very important sentence, but you got to keep in mind that we're doing it in the context of spiritual gifting. All right, like very important Understand, like, if you are a follower of Jesus, the entire point of this is to look more like Jesus. In other words, the bad habits we bring to the table when Jesus finds us, we need to do something about so that we look more like Jesus every single day, as 2 Corinthians 3, 18 would say that we are transformed from one degree of glory to the next. In other words, we need to be changing, and what we're going to cover today is one of those topics that we get a lot of or not we but that most people have a lot of pushback against because it's a high cost on yourself. All right, so I'm going to pray and then we're going to jump into it. Dear Jesus, I ask and I pray as I preach today that, god, you speak through me, that I am just a vessel that you use to speak to your people, so that we may look more like you. Father, I pray all of this in Jesus' name, amen. All right, here is our verse ready.
Speaker 1:In Romans 12, verse 7, it says If service in our serving Now. That verse continues on and this is like really hard for me because I don't like to break verses apart like that Like sometimes you'll hear like oh 7a, there is no 7a in the Bible. But what the verse continues on with is If teaching then in our teaching. So that is a different spiritual gift. So today we are only looking at that first part if service in our serving Now. Obviously there's more, but I'm going to put this I promise I'm going to still look at this in context but the first. But let's look at first the spiritual gift of service. Now, first and foremost, I want you to ask yourself why is serving a spiritual gift Like? Think through this Like it is a spiritual gift. In other words, god has to transform our hearts for us to be able to serve. Why and I mean the answer being really simple Serving others goes against every single fiber of your being, and that's each and every one of us. Think about it.
Speaker 1:If you have kids, does your child ever worry about how your day went, or are they just concerned for what you can do for them. And if you're an adult in here, when you were a child, did you ever look at your parents and go? You know what mom you look like. You're having a rough day today, so let me handle all of that responsibility. No right, none of us did that. Maybe on Mother's Day, but that was about it.
Speaker 1:See, serving is the opposite of what we naturally feel. Naturally, every single one of us in this room wants to look out for ourself. Naturally, we are Sally from a Charlie Brown Christmas. We are Sally from a Charlie Brown Christmas. I just want what's coming to me. I just want my fair share. That's us.
Speaker 1:I was going to use, I think, his name's Tony Montoya. I just want what's coming to me. Chico, the world. But using a Scarface reference kind of seemed counterproductive and I've never actually seen the movie. I've only seen that one little clip, that and you know the famous Say Hello to my Little Friend.
Speaker 1:But, that being said, this is who we are, right. I just want my fair share and what I want us to understand is there are complete ideologies, like human systems, that are based around this thought. We live in it now, don't we See? And we really only want what is fair for us. When it's fair for me, see, think about it. Like, like, we love saying that we should like help, but when it comes time to actually help, how many of us are digging into our pocket, going you know what? Yeah, you're absolutely right here. How many of us are really showing up for the extra? Like, I get it, we have Sunday morning, but how many of us are showing up on Wednesday afternoons or Wednesday evenings? How many of us on a Tuesday, are going hey, let me drop everything. See, we want what is fair for us, we want what's going to benefit us, and this is human nature. So if you're sitting here feeling a certain kind of way about that, understand I'm talking to everyone in this room, myself included. In fact, normally when I preach, I am preaching to me. First, think about it.
Speaker 1:In Paul's letter to his second letter to Timothy, in chapter three, he starts with this. He says but understand this that in the last days there will come times of difficulty, for people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God having the appearance of godliness but denying its power. I think Paul might have been inspired by the Holy Spirit there, right, because all you got to do is look around, like when you read through that and you get through some of those words, man, some of those are like huge words to choke on. Man, some of those are like huge words to choke on. But understand. There are like entire youtube videos based on the ipad generation where it's just videos of parents taking away an ipad from a kid and and these little itty bitty like toddler kids are attacking their full-grown adult parents because you took away their ipad. Like there are whole channels based upon stuff like this.
Speaker 1:You don't think that those words ring true. You don't think, when we look at our society, when we look at our world, what are we worried about? Us ourselves, our family, us Ourselves, our family? Like, think about it, how many of us are sitting just going? I'm just worried about the people that live in my household, these people that I see. These are just faceless people out here. Now, I won't go out of my way to be rude or mean to them, but on the same hand, I'm not going to go out of my way to serve them either. I'm not going to go out of my way to make it harder on me because, at the end of the day, I only have so much time, I only have so much money, I only have so much resource, and that needs to go to the people closest to me. See, we are what Paul just wrote about. See, we are what Paul just wrote about. We are treacherous. We are lovers of ourselves. We are lovers of money. We are lovers of the things that we can acquire in life.
Speaker 1:Those of you that that talk to me outside of here you know, my biggest struggle in life right now is this right, do I want a pontoon boat or do I want a bay boat? Like I spend hours watching videos and then like, when me and JT are out fishing or when I go out by myself because JT no longer wants to go, that's right. I'm looking at the other boats and I'm like, okay, can I picture myself I am one step away from like trying to board someone else's boat and going, hey, can you just give me a minute? I just want to test this out, just want to see what this feels like. Why Could my mental state not be spent coming up with better things.
Speaker 1:Could I not be spending time sitting here going? What else can we do to serve others? What else could I do that exists beyond myself? See, and I love that last line Paul says we are so selfish that we have the appearance of godliness selfish that we have the appearance of godliness, the appearance of godliness. We look the part, we come up, we show up, we look like we are doing, but Jesus is simply just a means to an end. Like, think about it. How many of us, when you do something for someone, you feel good about it and we're going to get to that at the end of my message. But if you're only doing it so that you can feel good about it, then are you really doing it for the right reason, or is Jesus now just a means to your end? Like, do we have these checklists where we go? You know what? I went to church Sunday Check, I'm good to go. I got the rest of the week going. Now I mean, if you're in youth in here, if you're a youth age kid in here, you're sitting here going. Hey, I hear the Bible every day. That's great. But how much of it is just going in one ear and out the other, like I get it Because we're not concerned about that, because we our natural state.
Speaker 1:We can sum up in one word Selfishness. And it's so funny because, like on our Wednesday night on our book studies, there's been like three weeks in a row where we're getting into something in the book study and I go. Well, it's kind of not fair, because this is what I'm preaching on this week. So last week we were looking at futility, and if you don't know what futility means, it's this idea that like everything is just like done for nothing, because at the end it really doesn't matter. That is what selfishness is.
Speaker 1:Selfishness is what drives every single sin you have ever or will ever commit. Selfishness is sitting here going I am higher than God or I am higher than others. That is what selfishness is, or I am higher than others. That is what selfishness is. And everything we've ever done that we should not have done was built out of this word selfish.
Speaker 1:And this is the lie the devil tries to trap you with. Just look out for numero uno, just look out for you, because no one else will. Here's the problem with that. You know how empty and futile life is when all you're doing is looking out for you, because the whole Bible would argue this. You weren't created to live for you. You weren't created for you to be the center of your universe. For hundreds of years, mankind believed that Earth was the center of the universe and everything else rotated around us, and it wasn't until much later where they found out that the sun is actually the center of our solar system and everything else rotates around that. See, a lot of us, that's how we view our life, that I just got to look out for me, because if I look out for me, I'll be happy. Number one happiness is a terrible thing to chase, because your happiness can be gone like that True statement.
Speaker 1:Right, we went out or not we? I went out on the boat for the first time on a solo trip yesterday and like I wasn't worried about like when I'm on the water, like I wasn't worried about like once everything's set and ready to go, the only thing I was worried about was when I'm like putting the boat in the water. And then I got to go park the truck because I got to leave my boat unattended, like you tie it off to the dock and all of that, and I was like the only thing I could picture was like I would be parking my truck and looking out at the water and just watching my boat, just all lonely by herself, floating away from the dock. And then I'm like I'm going to be that guy right where I think I'm part porpoise and I'm going to dive into the water and I'm going to be able to swim and catch up to this and then climb back on it and let her know I'll never leave her by herself again. But see, my happiness could have been taken just like that, like if that would have happened, which, thank God, god, it didn't do you think? Like when I call Debbie and she goes hey, how was it? I'm going to be like you know what. It was a great trip.
Speaker 1:I learned a lot about myself. I learned that I can swim pretty fast. Like no, I would have been like Deb. It was the most horrible thing that ever happened. And please tell me, our insurance was paid in full because my happiness would have been gone. And that's what we live for, right, we live for happiness. We live for something that can be taken at any given moment. Think about how frail your happiness really and truly is.
Speaker 1:I've talked to this person that's part of our congregation. I'm not going to tell you who, but like we were talking and they brought up a very astute point of view, they went am I just good with my life because I have no problems in my life. And I went man, wow, like people don't normally wrestle with stuff like that, good for you, because what would happen? What would happen if you went to work and they were like, hey, we got to, let you go? What would happen if, all of a sudden, the bank was like, hey, you didn't pay us, we got to take your house or your car or all the things that you think bring you happiness, bring you happiness. I hate saying this because the last time I said this I was the one that got that phone call.
Speaker 1:But understand every single one of us, your entire life can be changed with one phone call. We were leaving, we were coming home last night and it was, you know, like almost nine o'clock. We got right there to Saxon in Normandy and there's a fire truck and police cars and ambulances and they have the whole road blocked off and as a law enforcement officer, I already know what's going on and I went. Someone's entire life just got changed. Their entire life just got changed. Their entire life just got changed.
Speaker 1:Think about it, some of us in this room. Your life got changed in one instant. That one thing that you didn't see coming came and all of a sudden, our happiness just goes out of the window. This thing, this God I have been worshiping, is now gone, and I see how futile this God was and how this idol could not withstand my worship. And yet this is what we chase in our selfishness, this idea that the devil has us trapped in going. It's just you. You, you need to make yourself happy.
Speaker 1:In fact, listen to how John would word this in first John 3 16, not John 3 16. First John 3 16. It says this by this we know love, that he laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's good and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and truth.
Speaker 1:For years and years and years and years, we had Citigroup at our house, where we would always I don't even, it didn't even matter what verse we were talking about. This is what would come up. Well, should you give money to the homeless people on the side of the road? Like it didn't. We could be like talking about like something in Genesis, this came up. We'd be talking about like the end of the world in Revelation. This didn't matter. We could be like talking about like something in Genesis. This came up. We'd be talking about like the end of the world in Revelation. This would come up. I don't know how it came up in everything and, of course, like the room would be split in half, half the people would be like, no, you shouldn't give them money. The other half would be like yeah, sure, if you got a dollar, give them a dollar. And I get it Again. In law enforcement, you're trained very heavily on gypsies and these people that come out and they make a living just standing on the side of the road holding that sign. I get it, but see what that person does with what you give them is not up to you.
Speaker 1:Listen to what the Bible literally just said. If you have and choose not to, how does God's love abide in you? In other words, if you're not going to act like Jesus, how are you going to say that Jesus dwells within you, like those two things are incompatible with each other. Now I'm not sitting here and going. Hey, every person you see, just throw 100 out to them and let the Spirit be the Spirit. But understand what John is saying here. But we know love. How do we know that? Because Christ gave himself for us.
Speaker 1:Brothers and sisters, I want you to hear this Jesus didn't have to die. Jesus didn't have to enter into creation. Jesus didn't have to come here. Jesus would have been completely just and going give them hell. He would have been completely just as soon as Adam and Eve did what he told them not to do, of just going and starting it all over again. This was a choice Jesus made. Those of you who have been here for a long time, you know this expression. Love is a verb. Love is what you do. Love is not what you feel on the inside. Your heart is wicked and deceitful, above all things. Who can understand it? But what we see in scripture is love is what we do. John is sitting here, going. Jesus chose to come. Jesus chose to lay down his life.
Speaker 1:You do realize that Colossians would explain to us that the very wood that the cross is made out of. Jesus not only created, but he sustains it and holds it together the nails that the Romans used to crucify him. He not only created but sustains it and holds it together. So, at any given time, if Jesus would have changed his mind, the wood wouldn't even be available to hang him on. You wouldn't even have nails to pierce his skin. It was a choice and understand what was happening the night before.
Speaker 1:Jesus is so stressed out by this choice. He is literally sitting there sweating blood. Anybody in here you ever been that nervous? You ever been that stressed? I mean, I know there's been things that have happened in your life, but have you ever been stressed to the point that your capillaries are literally forcing the blood to come out of your skin? I know it wasn't me. I've never been heartbroken that much over anything. And John is sitting here saying if that's who we want to be, not being it in word alone, like all of us in here, if I had JT, really quick, get on YouTube and look up that.
Speaker 1:Sarah McLaughlin, you know I forget the song of it, but like you see the dogs in the crates and they're like for you know, $2.25 a day you can help this dog man, half of you in this room would be like getting your phone out and just donating to that. Because, oh, look at that poor little dog. And I'm not saying again that we crucify and just harm animals for the sake of that. That's serial killer tendency. So if you were one of those in here that are like you don't feel anything, then you need to go talk to someone. That's all I'm going to say. But on the flip side, my whole heart isn't like broken and ravaged because there's a dog whose owner did not love them and now they're stuck in this crate and oh, but they're going to euphonize them. Okay, it's a dog, I did it to my own dog.
Speaker 1:But how many of us are that heartbroken because there are kids going to bed that don't have food? How many of us are heartbroken because there are moms and dads trying to get jobs but they're going to job interviews in clothes that are ripped and torn because they don't have clothes? That when the kids get picked up after school, when the kids get picked up after school, that they're just sitting here in their home? And I'm not talking about a good $100,000 RV, I'm talking about a beat-up 1989 Honda Civic hatchback. See, we don't have that same level of heartbrokenness on that, because then we get to go like this right, you ready. It was their choice. They chose that life and maybe they did. Maybe at some point in their life they did decide that partying was more fun than education. Maybe they did choose that. You know who else did? I did.
Speaker 1:And if it wasn't for God's grace, at certain points in my life, would I be here right now? Absolutely not. Like when I first graduated high school and I started working construction and I went oh, like I could have all of my dreams Because $400 a week while I'm living at my parents' house. Man, I was balling. Debbie loved it. I was like what you want, baby, let's go. And then all of a sudden they started sending me these little plastic cards in the mail that said I could buy things even if I didn't have the money for it. This was amazing and I could have all the little things that my heart desired.
Speaker 1:And now that we're older and we get to look back, the only thing me and Debbie do is go. Man, what if we would have done it sooner? What if God would have captured our hearts and minds like 10 years prior to where we are right now. What if we were 10 years already down the road? You're right, some of them made that choice and you know what they need. They need a heartbroken person in their life going hey, it doesn't have to be like this, you can still choose different. You can still choose to redo all of this.
Speaker 1:I was 30 when I went back to college and when I was there, they did this big write-up in the school paper. There was a 92-year-old woman who, like, went to college because it was always her dream. Now, I don't think she was looking to switch careers at that point. I think it was just more one of those like pride things. But good for her, because it's never too late. It's never too late to start over and start new, but we have to start doing something.
Speaker 1:Indeed, what John is saying there, indeed, in truth, is this you can sit here and yap all day about it. That doesn't fix anything. You actually have to do something about it. See, we can sit here and go. My heart breaks for those living in poverty but if we're not doing anything about it, then what good is your broken heart going to do? This is why service in Romans 12 is a spiritual gift, because at that point it is literally Jesus reaching into your heart of stone and going no, no, no, no, no, I'm going to give you a heart of flesh as a fulfillment of Ezekiel 36. It is literally Jesus sitting here, going. You are going to do different than what you are programmed to do. See, when you understand what Jesus did for you personally because I get it Some of you in here you're like I don't have that kind of backstory.
Speaker 1:I was born and raised in church and the worst thing I've ever done is, every once in a while, I said a cuss word. If that's you, great, god bless you. I am glad that is your testimony. But understand this how many times do you have to lie before you are a liar? Once, understand this.
Speaker 1:Jesus said if you've to lie before you are a liar once, understand this. Jesus said if you've ever been mad at, like your brother or sister and called them a fool, you are guilty of hellfire. And in the Beatitudes he would even say this about anger that you might as well have murdered them. So understand this. Okay, you don't have that. You know. Rags to riches testimony Awesome. But you ain't perfect either. And if the standard is perfection and you aren't perfect, guess what? You are just as wicked and evil as Hitler. And I didn't misspeak on that, because when Jesus looks at us, he doesn't go. Well, you know, your sin wasn't as bad. He goes. No, you didn't hit perfection, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. So understand that in the eyes of perfection, me and Hitler, we're on the same level, even though I didn't kill six million people.
Speaker 1:But see, here's what Jesus comes along with this spiritual gift and says In Mark 9.35,. Jesus himself says this, and he sat down and called the 12, and he said to them if anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all. Uh-oh, because you know who was servant of all Jesus. We got a problem now Because all I got to do is, at 9 30 tomorrow, go all right, you have a snack and a drink, go ahead and get it and line up and I can watch 22 people try to kill themselves to get right next to the door. Because you know, if you get out first you get a prize. I guess Maybe you're saving yourself the extra three seconds it's going to take whether you are the last one in line or the first one, because those three seconds I mean, that's just going to. You know, I guess, give you an extended break. Think about it.
Speaker 1:Us adults in here that are like I would never do that, How's your driving? Yeah, we drove to Kennedy Space Center and I had students that were like Mr Lively, you ran red lights. You're right, you know why? Because I want to be first. Because, just like Ricky Bobby would tell you, if you ain't first, you're last. See, that's us, though.
Speaker 1:But Jesus along and he goes. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. You have this different, you have this backwards. If you want to be first, you have to be last, and on a human understanding, you're like that doesn't make any sense. Well, Jesus isn't talking about on a human understanding. He's sitting here, going. You have to be a servant of all. Think about it. No one in here wants a boss. We all want to be the boss. No one in here likes being told what to do. No one in here likes when someone comes and brings correction into our life no one. And yet Jesus is sitting here and going.
Speaker 1:Those are exactly the things I'm telling you you need. You need people. We were just talking about this Wednesday night at our book study. You need people who love you enough to come to you and go. Bro, you're wrong, seriously. Like when they like survey people about smaller churches, right, why don't people like smaller churches? Everybody knows. Well, I don't want people talking about me. I agree, gossip is a sin Like and terrible and poisonous and cancerous. I agree with you. But you know what you do need. You need people who know you. You need people who can come to you and go. No, that's not good Because that's going to lead to death in your life. Not good because that's going to lead to death in your life. That's going to lead to physical death and that's going to lead to spiritual death. You can grieve the Holy Spirit. See what Jesus is sitting here saying is you need to be a servant to everyone around you.
Speaker 1:And what's the first thing that comes in our mind? That's not fair. Think about it. Like you guys. Remember group projects in school, right? Four students working together, one person doing all the work, right, seriously, it's how we learn how to be like city workers when we grow up. And in that group it was like well, that's not fair. I did all the work. How come they get the same grade? Chances are, at some point you were the one that wasn't doing all the work too, but the only times you remember were the times where you were the one doing all the work. You don't remember that Spanish three paper that you had to write, where you were like man, I can, yo quiero Taco Bell. Like, and that's all I got. No, it's not fair.
Speaker 1:But let me ask you this who lied to you and told you this thing was fair? Like, was it fair for Jesus? Did he get a fair trial? Did he have due process? When Pilate went hey, I find no wrong in him did he go? Okay, you are free to go. We're declaring this a mistrial.
Speaker 1:The prosecution did not meet their burden of evidence. Like, is that what happened? Did not meet their burden of evidence? Like, is that what happened? No, no, not at all. Pilate went. I find no wrong in him. Do you guys still want me to kill him though? Cool, kill him.
Speaker 1:How fair was that? How fair was it that Jesus had to come into creation to begin with? Like, how fair was that? God gave Adam and Eve a paradise? God literally created heaven on earth, walked with them in the cool of the day, went hey, you can have all of this, except this one thing. Think about that. When you give that option to your children and they take that one thing because you know they're going to do, you sit here and go. All right, that was fair. Option to your children. And they take that one thing because you know they're going to Do, you sit here and go. All right, that was fair. No, you sit here and go. What's wrong with you? I asked you to do one thing, one simple thing. So how fair was it? But yet that's what we're concerned about, right? Well, that's not fair. I'm smarter, I'm a harder worker, I show up on time, I'm here every day and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
Speaker 1:Who lied to you and said that this was going to be fair, though? We live in a sinful world and Jesus isn't sitting here going hey, when it's fair for you be servant of all, he's sitting here going no, no, no, no, no. You need to serve everybody, everybody. Like there should be no one above you. Like you got to put yourself down here. Well, no, I don't want to do that. Why would Jesus tell me to do that? Well, in steps Matthew 20, 28, right. Even the son of man came not to be served but to serve.
Speaker 1:So let me ask you this those of you in here that are like, no, this isn't my spiritual gift. Like you said, when we first started going over spiritual gifts that I was going to have like a, no, this isn't my spiritual gift. Like you said, when we first started going over spiritual gifts that I was going to have like a combination, I was cool with the prophet thing. You know what, I can even get down on some healing stuff, like put me down for that one too, but no, the serving thing, this ain't me.
Speaker 1:If you were a follower of Jesus, let me tell you something this better be your gifting, because, see, it's impossible to say I follow Jesus and not go where Jesus went and not do what Jesus did. Like, understand, if I was like, hey, follow me to Mission Barbecue, joe's been working really hard to get me on this train. We had it yesterday. It wasn't terrible. If I said follow me to Mission Barbecue, I could be like, hey, I'm going to pay for everything. Like I got this, but we went and we made a right out of the parking lot and we get down to Enterprise and I make a right to get on to I-4 and you make a left. Did you follow me? I mean when a ninth grader can point that out very quickly.
Speaker 1:But yet all of us are sitting here and going I follow Jesus. We don't actually go where Jesus went, we don't actually do what Jesus did. Then how are you sitting here saying I follow Jesus? How are you sitting here saying he's my Lord and Savior? Like if your life doesn't look any different? You just keep on doing what you're keeping on doing. Are you following him? No, not at all. You're doing what you want to do and then trying to sprinkle Jesus into this. Jesus sits here and goes hey, I didn't come to be served. And if anyone deserved to be served, wouldn't it be the one who I don't know created all of this? Like, think to be served. Wouldn't it be the one who I don't know created all of this? Like, think about that. Like, if you created everything, if you had the power to sit here and just go you know what here, here's what I want and then boom, it is here Don't you think people would be like hey, like, don't you think they want to be your friend at that point? Then they have any problem going. Hey, I'm going to go where you go.
Speaker 1:I used to love watching the lottery change my life, and I had those poverty dreams too. Right Like, one day I'm just going to spend a dollar and we're going to be instant millionaires. Hasn't happened, and unfortunately, I did find out there are better investment opportunities than the Florida lottery system. But think about it. Every single person I watched on there, man, when they hit the lotto. They had friends that they never even knew they were friends with. Why? Because now you can pay for my life too. See, a lot of us. That's how we treat Jesus though. Hey, you can pay for my life, and as long as I'm getting from you what I want, we're cool. But as soon as I don't get what I want, I'm going to go somewhere else. I'm going to look into Buddhism at that point, or Hinduism, or whatever.
Speaker 1:But let me ask you, if you're sitting here and you're going, it's not fair that I'm called to serve everyone. Would you be willing to stand in front of King Jesus with the holes in his hands and his feet? Would you be able to stand in front of him and go? Hey, jesus, it ain't fair. Like, do you ever stop and think about that? That Jesus could look at you and go ain't fair? Huh, I get it. Imagine that and he's just holding his hands up to you so you can see through him. Maybe then it puts into perspective in our minds you're right, it wasn't fair. It wasn't fair for you to have to pay for me either.
Speaker 1:I'm not the greatest catch in the world. I'll tell you right now, like I'm pretty good at some things, but I bring a lot of baggage to the table. Like there are times I have no problem arguing with Jesus because I go that shouldn't be in there, jesus, like I don't know why you would include this. There's some times where I want to just like please myself. Like I can understand better when Paul is sitting here going I'm chief among sinners than I can understand with Jesus sitting here going. I love you enough that I'm going to die for you. I don't understand that, because if I was Jesus, I wouldn't die for me. I'd be like look bro, I gave you a chance. What'd you do with it? Every single time I tried to redeem you. What do you do with it? Like you do understand, I know, like ladies, you guys are going through Leviticus. Right, it's a thrilling book. I know no one ever struggles to read all the way through Leviticus. That's usually like when your you know Bible reading plan just kind of breaks down, right. But you understand, all of that is foreshadowing what's coming, with Jesus going. Hey, I know it's not fair, but guess what? I'm gonna be that lamb anyway, like Jesus is sitting here going.
Speaker 1:It may not be fair, but you need to put yourself last. Why? Because I put myself last. And think about it like this If I put you above me and you put me above you, where do we both go Up? I tell people this all the time. You want a happy marriage, there's one secret you ready Put your spouse's need above your own, that's it. If you can do that, I promise you. I'm not saying you'll never have fights and stuff like that, but I promise you you're going to have a good marriage. It'll go the distance.
Speaker 1:You know when it doesn't, when you put your needs above your spouse's. You know when it doesn't. When you put your needs above your spouse's, that's when it breaks down. That's when we get selfish. That's when we sit here and start doing all of those things that we know are only going to end in what Death? The death of our marriage, our spiritual deaths, our physical deaths.
Speaker 1:And Jesus is sitting here going, like this is what I called you to do. This is why I'm changing your heart. And guess what? Jesus doesn't even pout about it, like some of us, like we'll come up and serve, but here's how we're going to do it, and you know how. I know that Because there are some times where, like I'm sitting here going, I just want to go home, like I just want to go home, I just want to lay in bed, I just want to watch TV, I just want to be able to go out on the boat, I just want to go do anything or anything other than this.
Speaker 1:Jesus never has that point. In fact, if you we look at Isaiah 53, it's called the suffering servant. We see this starting in verse 7. You ready? He was oppressed and he was afflicted. Yet he opened not his mouth, like a lamb that is led to the slaughter and like a sheep before its shearers is silent. So he opened not his mouth.
Speaker 1:When Jesus was going to the cross, he wasn't sitting here trying to put together a movement. He wasn't sitting here going hey, my life matters. He wasn't sitting here, going, hey, this is how unfair this is. You know what he did? He walked his cross to Golgotha. See, some of us.
Speaker 1:We need to understand that Paul would tell you this in Philippians, need to understand that Paul would tell you this in Philippians, starting in verses. Starting in chapter 2, verse 14. You ready? Do all things without grumbling or disputing, without grumbling or disputing that you may be blameless and innocent children of God, without blemish, in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation among whom you shine as lights in the world when we look just like the world. Why would the world ever look at the church and go, hey, they got something going on in there. Listen to what Paul said do all things without grumbling and disputing. Wait, does that mean do the unfair things that I don't want to do without grumbling, yes, without sitting here and going, hey, this isn't fair. Why? Because Jesus did, that's why. Think about it Like. It just makes me laugh because I have like so many illustrations just based off of middle and high school.
Speaker 1:Monday hey, you guys got to write a three-page paper. Oh God, really, dude, it's a three-page paper Like. This is not that big of a deal of a deal. Hey, for culinary, you have all week to write a one-page paper or do a two to four-minute presentation about a foodborne illness. But understand, this has got to be how I sound to Jesus when Jesus goes no, no, no, I called you to serve and I'm like Jesus, like the weather's going to be really nice on Saturday.
Speaker 1:You don't understand this. I worked all week, jesus, like I did 40 hours, which I can't tell you. The last time I've only done 40 hours. But Jesus, you just don't understand. It's not coming at a real good time for me, man, it's not coming at a real good time for me, and that's how we live life. Is that what Jesus did? No, he went and did what he had to do, without grumbling, without complaining, without opening his mouth, and it was unfair. You want to know why? Serving is a spiritual gift, because it's taking my nature that rebels against all of that and going. But you know what I'm going to do it I'm going to serve, I'm going to be a servant of all. I'm going to put myself last on purpose. I'm going to make sure everyone is taken care of before I ever sit down. I'm going to love in deed and in truth. I'm going to do all of this with a smile, so that I can be a light to the world. One last illustration I'm going to give you on that and then I'm going to wrap it up. One last illustration I'm going to give you on that and then I'm going to wrap it up.
Speaker 1:As much as recently, I think Chick-fil-A has lost their way. Okay, and it started. I can even put like a timetable on it. I walked in one day and they were no longer playing like Christian music in the restaurant. It was instrumentals of Christian music. I went that's weird. But like, from that point till now, I believe they've been on a downward trajectory.
Speaker 1:But let me ask you something Do you know what? The third, most popular, third most highest earning fast food chain in America is Chick-fil-A? The only thing that can compete with Chick-fil-A is McDonald's and Starbucks. So some of y'all y'all need to get your priorities right, because Starbucks should not be number two. Okay, like, make coffee at home, but nevertheless at home, but nevertheless, chick-fil-a is the third most profitable fast food chain in America.
Speaker 1:And how did they build that? Because, let's be honest, I know at one point Jesus was blessing the food, like as they would prepare it. But Popeye's does a pretty good chicken sandwich too, right? So it wasn't that their food was just magically better and so much better. And think about it. They're even closed one day a week, like they purposely go out of their way to close at least 52 times a year so that their employees can. It used to be when I worked there so your employees could worship Jesus. Now I think it's so their employees could like worship how they freely, or something like that. But think about that. They're closed one day a week too. So how did they get there?
Speaker 1:Well, it wasn't because their food was amazing, it was this you could go to Chick-fil-A. Okay, and I only know this because this is what Debbie used to do with our kids when they were like little, little little. You could go to Chick-fil-A. They would detail your car, they would watch your kids, they would run your errands, they would serve you food, they would like give you like back rubs and all of this to make you feel so incredibly special. And 99% of that was not true. So those of you looking at me like Debbie got back rubs from a Chick-fil-A employee? No, she didn't. I'm obviously exaggerating. To prove a point they made service the number one thing they focus on, and they would do all of this with a smile and then by finishing it by going my pleasure.
Speaker 1:Think about that. You ever seen a mad Chick-fil-A employee Like you go up and you're like you made my sandwich wrong. I said no pickles. And they're like I am so sorry, let me get this fixed for you right now. Here's a refund and a sandwich with no pickles. And you're like I wasn't done yelling yet you can yell, sir, if that makes you feel better. And then you get done and you're like thank you. And they're like my pleasure, you know. Then people are going home and they're like but that's how Chick-fil-A grew so large. It was their service. It was as a paying customer. You went. I can either go get like crap food that was dropped on the ground. Someone spit on it. They're going to give me an attitude like I'm doing them a favor by giving you my money, or I can pay $2 more and I can go get treated Like seriously.
Speaker 1:They did do a lot like back in the day, like you brought your kids up, and they would be like oh, we have a whole craft table set up over here, their play place. You know what we never found in there A dirty diaper or needles. Like you felt safe there. Think about it. That's what Jesus is sitting here going. This is what I called you to Stop living your life for you. Because I didn't called you to Stop living your life for you because I didn't call you to live your life for you. I called you so that you could pour out everything you are to those around you, and do it without complaining, do it with a smile, look at it and go. It is my pleasure that I get to do this. In fact, I'm going to leave you with this because if you're like sitting in here and you're like, well, I don't believe in Jesus and I don't believe in the Bible, and I know no one would say that with their words, but like in your heart, if that's you, I'm going to show you where science actually caught up to the Bible.
Speaker 1:According to Psychology Today, it says this Studies indicate that's cool, man, I'm on your time. Studies indicate that opportunities to serve others, whether in civic, private or professional settings, as well as charitable giving, result in a stronger sense of purpose and meaning in life, leading to better mental and physical well-being. Jesus is sitting here going. What y'all don't understand is this is how I created you. You get a reward for it. Why? Because Jesus is sitting here, going when I redeem you. What I'm trying to break in your redemption is that selfishness that says me, me, me, me, me. So you've lived most of your life going me, me, me, me, me. How has that worked out for you, your life going me, me, me, me, me. How has that worked out for you? Study, or a scientist would even sit here and go. No, no, when you do for others, it's better for you. So, like when Jesus says lay it all down because I laid it all down, become a servant of all because I served all. Well, uh-oh, now even secular scientists are sitting here going. There's something to this.
Speaker 1:So, as we close today, let me ask you over this past week, how have you served others? Like, how have you done for others? And I'm not talking about like oh well, you know, I made my kids dinner. That's not serving, that's just being a parent. This coming up week, how could you serve for others? How could you sit here and go? You know what? How can I put others above me this week? See, if you want to be like Jesus, serve everyone around you. You want to be miserable. Keep serving yourself. You want to feel overwhelmed, purpose-driven, like you have something to live for. Start serving others. You're sitting here, going. I don't even know what to do. Come see me before you leave. I have a list of things that I can have you do. But what are you going to do this week that makes you more like Jesus? How are you going to live your life this week? Not for you, but for Christ?
Speaker 1:So, father, I ask and I pray that, as we move forward from this place, that God, you just miraculously in our hearts by your Spirit, give us that spiritual gifting of blessing or of service. Father, I ask and I pray that we are transformed from the inside out, that throughout this week, god, you give us those eyes, that you give us that heart that joyfully and gladly, with a smile, serves others. Father, I ask and I pray that, as we move forward from this place, that God, we choose to serve you by serving others, that we are a light to this world that people can look at and go. There's something there, there's something different there, because we don't complain and we don't dispute and we just do so joyfully. Father, I ask and I pray all of this in Jesus' name, amen.