Serve Others!

October 2, 2025

Serve Others!

One of the best ways to see the face of Jesus is to look into the face of the poor living in our midst.

Too often, we wonder if Jesus still speaks to us, if Jesus is still present with us, if Jesus still listens to us, if Jesus still cares about us, if Jesus still forgives us, if Jesus still heals us, if Jesus still restores us.

When I am not sure if Jesus is still present with me, I push myself to spend some time with the poor; the poor in spirit, the poor in resources, the poor in status, the poor in friends, the poor in health, the poor in hope, etc. 

There were times when I would get overwhelmed with the demands of my job.  There would be so many things to do, so many people to visit, and so many expectations I placed on myself that it seemed there were not enough hours and not enough energy to get it all done in a way that honored the Lord God.

Sometimes I wondered if Jesus was still present with me, still speaking to me, still leading me.  I would shut down my computer, turn off my phone, and tell my staff I was going to the nursing home to visit.  I would focus my visits on those I knew rarely had family or friends visit.  I spent time with the poor in health, the poor in family connection, and the poor in love. 

As I moved from room to room and apartment to apartment, I looked deeply into the faces of those who were lonely and/or alone.  I listened carefully.  I gave my time, my compassion, and my prayers to them.  In the midst of spending time with the poor, I saw their faces reflecting the face of the Christ.

In those moments, my heart and mind and soul were restored and renewed.  I saw them as children of God and I saw the face of Jesus sitting in front of me.  I gained a new and changed perspective of my work back at the office.  I gained a renewed hope in the midst of the sometimes mundane tasks of my job.  I gained the assurance that Jesus was with me, for me, and ahead of me.  I saw the face of Jesus when I look into the face of the poor living in my midst.

The church in first century Corinth was troubled with all kinds of divisions, multiple conflicts, and constant arguments.  In I Corinthians, the Apostle Paul gives some practical guidance to the Christ-followers in that church. 

And then towards the end of his letter, Paul offers one more word of wise counsel.  In I Corinthians 16:16 Paul writes; “I urge you to put yourselves at the service of such people and of everyone who works and toils with them.”  Paul tells the people that when the conflicts and arguments and divisions in the church start to pull them down and pull the church apart, they should take time to serve one another. 

The Apostle Peter offers the same advice to the Christ-followers to whom he is writing.  In I Peter 4:10 we hear; “Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.”

When we serve one another, especially the poor in our midst, God’s grace is extended, God’s mercy is offered, and God’s love is proclaimed.  We serve one another by offering practical help.  We offer food to the hungry, time with the lonely, prayer for the spiritually empty, care for the emotionally distraught, forgiveness to the broken, healing to the wounded, and Christ to those who need a Savior.

When we serve one another, especially the poor in our midst, we see the face of Jesus in the face of the person we serve, we experience the presence of Jesus in a new way, and we are filled again with the power of the Holy Spirit.

We are renewed, we are revived, and we are restored.  As we give away a part of ourselves in the name of Jesus to another person, Jesus shows up to transform their life and renew our heart.  For whatever the reason, I have found this to be especially true when we serve the poor. 

I am not sure how you are doing today.  I imagine you may need a fresh encounter with our living Lord.  More than you may know, you need a new experience of the fire of the Holy Spirit, you need the assurance Christ is with you right now, and you might need a special outpouring of God’s mercy on you.

Stop what you are doing!  Get up out of your chair, pry yourself loose from the screen upon which you are focused, and step away from whatever is overwhelming you, distracting you, or pushing you down. 

Take an hour to go visit someone, serve someone, help someone.  Serve someone who is poor (i.e., lacking in some way!) while looking deep into their eyes.  Show them some generosity, offer them some real help and hope, give them a part of your heart, share with them the love of Jesus.

One of the best ways to see the face of Jesus is to look into the face of the poor living in our midst.  Let’s go serve someone this week…in the name of Jesus!

As you serve that other person, look into their face until you see the face of Jesus.  When you see Jesus’ face, your heart will be filled with delight, your energy will be restored, and your problems will feel much smaller.   

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug