“ Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them. — JOHN 13:17

Getting Closer to Jesus: If we are to be the kind of Christ-followers that God can bless, our behavior must align with our beliefs. What we “know” must become what we “do.” Specifically, we will have to live like Jesus lived, which means serving like Jesus served. Jesus made that perfectly clear when he said,

You call me “Teacher” and “Lord,” and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.” (John 13:13-15, NLT)

So, how did Jesus serve? Well, an entire book could be written on that, but among the many characteristics of Jesus’ servanthood, he was simply available to people. Reflecting on my own life and the lives of many people I know, my sense is that the critical need for most of us who will read this devotional is to reorient our busy schedules so that serving Jesus by serving others becomes our top priority in life.

Think about how Jesus did that. Matthew 20 tells the story of Jesus walking to Jericho when some blind men start yelling at him: “Lord, have mercy on us!” And it says, “Jesus stopped and asked. ‘What do you want me to do for you?’”

Now think about that: Jesus stopped! God turned aside to make himself accessible to those whom society had cast aside. Jesus did that a lot! Do you realize that most of his miracles were interruptions? What we see as an intrusion, Jesus saw as an invitation—an opening in his schedule to serve God’s purpose by serving God’s people. If we are to grow into a Christ-like ministry mindset, that is the attitude we must cultivate. And here is what that means:

First, we will have to realign our crowded calendars. Matthew 6:33 says, “More than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things you want will be yours as well.” What that means is that if you make God’s concerns your priority, he will make your concerns his priority. In other words, that will make you bless-able.

Second, we will have to refocus on others. That means we will need to think a lot less about ourselves and a lot more about others. Philippians 2:4 reminds me that in becoming like Christ, I must “forget myself long enough to help other people.” That is truly the preeminent attitude of Christlikeness. And it is one of the things that leads to a truly satisfying experience of life, giving yourself to others. Again, that is what will make you bless-able.

Third, we will have to relax our perfectionism. Too many Christians wait for perfect circumstances to serve: when life isn’t so hectic, when the kids are out of the house, when the right ministry comes along, or when other stuff gets done first. Ecclesiastes 11:4 says, “If you wait for perfect conditions, you’ll never get anything done.” Christlike servants do their best with what they have for Jesus today, not someday. Like Jesus, they are available when the opportunity presents itself! By definition, a servant always makes themself available to their master, and that is what will make you bless-able to the only Master that matters.

Jesus served because at the core of who he was there was a consuming desire to connect people with the grace, mercy, and love of his Father. Serving was the primary means of that. Since, as a Christ-follower, you are being transformed into his character, that must be characteristic of you, too.

God has made—or more accurately, remade you—to serve him by ministering to others. Actually, “you are God’s workmanship, made to do good works that God himself has prepared in advance specifically for you to do.” (Ephesians 3:10)

Interestingly, and quite deliberately, the Greek word in that verse the Apostle Paul chose for workmanship is poiema. We derive our English word poem from that. You are God’s poem, and when you serve in the mindset of God’s Son, you become poetry in motion.

And when you do, you are at your most bless-able!

Take the Next Step : There is one vitally important question you must answer after you have been saved: Where are you loving God by serving others?