This week, we are diving into how service is an important aspect of the life of faith.
It is easy to believe that we serve others in order to “earn” good favor in heaven or to impress God and others. However, the reality is that service is not a prerequisite to salvation, but instead is an indication of a live and active faith.
Week Eight
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Day One
PRAY: Begin your time by asking God to help you posture your heart to see and serve others this week.
WRITE: In your journal, respond to the prompts below.
What does service mean to you?
How might service be an important piece of living a life of faith?
What rhythms of service do you have in your life?
ENGAGE: Spend a few moments watching the Compelled to Serve video.
WRITE: In your journal, respond to the prompts below.
What stood out to you from the video?
How did any ideas from the video shape your view of service differently?
How specifically do you want to serve others this week?
PRAY: Spend a few moments talking to God about what it might look like to love those around you more intentionally this week. Ask Him to show you one person He wants you to serve this week.
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Day Two
PRAY: Ask God to be present with you during this devotional time and through the rest of the day. Rest in His presence for a few moments.
READ: In your Bible, or below, read 1 John 4:16–21
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have
confidence on the day of judgement: In this world we are like Jesus.
There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear
has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
We love because He first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates
a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother or
sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.
And He has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also
love their brother and sister.
WRITE: In your journal, respond to the prompts below.
Which three phrases stand out to you? Why?
Which three phrases confuse you or do you have questions about?
How are faith and love tied together? How might one be a cause and the other be the effect?
REFLECT: According to that passage, God's love for us is the cause of our faith. The effect of our faith is love for others.
It is so easy to get caught up in trying to earn salvation by loving and serving others, but instead we must recognize that love and service are a response to faith in the one who loved us first.
PRAY: Close your time by asking God to give you the strength to love others fully because of the love He has freely offered to you.
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Day Three
PRAY: Spend time talking to God about the love that He freely offers you. Ask Him for the boldness to truly live as a response to that love.
READ: In your Bible, or below, read Matthew 25:34–40.
Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who
are blessed by my Father; take your inheritence, the kingdom
prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was
hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you
gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me
in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked
after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you
hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing
clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and
go to visit you?’
The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the
least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
WRITE: In your journal, respond to the prompts below.
How does this passage add more meaning to the passage from 1 John from day 2?
If faith is an active relationship with Jesus, how does this passage affect the way we serve those around us?
What questions do you have about this passage?
Where might God be challenging you to grow in your faith through this passage?
PRAY: Ask God to give you the eyes to see opportunities to love the least of these this week.
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Day Four
PRAY: As a prayer today, watch and listen to the “Available” by Elevation Worship video.
READ: Read over the lyrics to “Available” below.
Narrow as the road may seem
I'll follow where Your spirit leads
Broken as my life may be
I will give You every piece
I hear You call
I am available
I say, “Yes, Lord
I am available”
Here I am with open hands
Counting on Your grace again
Less of me and more of You
Oh, I just wanna see You move
WRITE: In your journal, respond to the prompts below.
How does that song speak to how we can love and serve others?
Do you feel like you have made yourself available for God to use? Why or why not?
What would it look like for you to be available to God this week?
PRAY: Close your time by asking God to help you become available to His call to love and serve others.
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Day Five, Six & Seven
PRAY: As you begin your devotional today, share with God the things that are keeping you from serving others.
