“If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”
John 12:26 ESV
For over a decade I worked in the restaurant/hospitality industry. I also worked in customer service and sales for a few years. Serving customers with integrity, grace, compassion, and purpose was so critical to the business. And what helped was serving people with a … SMILE! Ahh!
Service with a SMILE! But not just a smile. A sincere smile proved to be key to helping build a sense of friendship and trust. I remember times I DID NOT want to serve irritable, demanding customers with a smile. But when I did, their mood and dining experience changed. I even got some pretty good tips!
It’s not always easy putting on a smile when you’re trying to live a sincere Christ-like life. I’m sure you’ve experienced the pressures of living a more worldly-focused life. Our sinful nature and the godlessness of the world around us puts a frown on our hearts and minds. We serve Jesus because we choose to follow Him. And Jesus reminds us in John 12 that our choice to serve and follow Jesus has a great reward: our Father’s honor!
“If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.” John 12:26 ESV
While serving and following Jesus is not always easy, especially with a smile, we have to believe and know that our SERVICE WITH A HEART OF SACRIFICE pleases Him!
“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” James 1:2-3 NLT
It’s not a matter of if but when troubles, trials, and challenges come our way, it’s an opportunity to choose joy and for our relationship with God to grow. And wowzah! The writer of Hebrews speaks about how we can live a life of “service with sacrifice … and joy!”
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.” Hebrews 12:1-3 NLT
May our Lord Jesus, who sacrificed His life for us, grant us faith, endurance, and joy one day, one moment at a time.
