Heart of Service 服事的心
Dexu Xia
Do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. Galatians 5:13
When my “uncle” Emory passed away, the tributes were many and varied. Yet all those honors carried a consistent theme—Emory showed his love for God by serving others. Nowhere was this more exemplified than during his World War II military service, where he served as a corpsman—a medic who went into battle without a weapon. He received high military honors for his bravery, but Emory was most remembered for his compassionate service, both during and after the war.
Emory’s selflessness lived out Paul’s challenge to the Galatians. He wrote, “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” (Galatians 5:13). But how? In our brokenness, we’re hardwired to put self first, rather than others, so where does this unnatural selflessness come from?
In Philippians 2:5, Paul offers this encouragement: “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” Paul describes Christ’s willingness to even experience death on a cross out of His great love for us. Only as His Spirit produces the mind of Christ in us are we set apart and enabled to sacrifice for others—reflecting the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made when He gave Himself for us. May we yield to the Spirit’s work in us.
By: Bill Crowder
When has someone sacrificially served you? How can you serve others, perhaps beginning with your own family?
Loving Father, thank You for the perfect example of Jesus and His sacrifice for me. Please help me to have the mindset of Jesus.
不可将你们的自由当作放纵情欲的机会，总要用爱心互相服事。—加拉太书5章13节
在默利叔叔去世的时候，各式各样的悼词纷至沓来。然而所有的悼词都有同样的一个主题：默利叔叔以服事他人来表达对上帝的爱。最能体现这一点的，莫过于他在二战期间的服役经历。当时他在军中担任医护兵，是战场上没有武器装备的医护人员。虽然他英勇的表现使他获得崇高的军事荣誉，但最令人难忘的是他的爱心服事，无论是在战时或战后，他都带着怜悯去服事别人。
默利叔叔的无私付出实践了保罗对加拉太信徒的勉励：“你们蒙召是要得自由，只是不可将你们的自由当作放纵情欲的机会，总要用爱心互相服事”（加拉太书5章13节）。但要如何才能做到呢？因为人类的败坏，我们天生就会把自己放在第一位，而非他人。那么，这种并非与生俱来的无私付出从何而来呢？
在腓立比书2章4-5节，保罗劝勉信徒：“各人不要单顾自己的事，也要顾别人的事。你们当以基督耶稣的心为心。”保罗讲述基督因为对我们的大爱而愿意被钉死在十字架上。唯有祂的灵在我们里面生出基督的心思意念，我们才可以克服自私的天性，愿意为别人牺牲自己，反映出耶稣为世人舍命的终极牺牲。愿我们都能顺服圣灵在我们里面的工作。
作者： 柯贝尔
何时曾有人无私地服事你？
你要如何服事人，也许从自己的家庭做起？
慈爱的天父，感谢祢赐下耶稣完美的榜样，让祂为我牺牲。
请帮助我学习以基督的心为心。