Perceive God in Serving Others

by Annie Yorty ©2022

It’s a busy week for me, one where I have the privilege to serve as the missionary at Good News Camp and Vacation Bible School. Sometimes I get caught up in the details and forget how much we can perceive God in serving others.

My friend, Rob, isn’t highly esteemed by the world. Viewed by some as a mistake because of his intellectual disability, he won’t ever earn a living. He may never own much of anything. He probably won’t be famous, set world records, or pass on a legacy to his own kids.

But Rob serves others. In so doing, Rob serves God.

Every week, Rob cleans toilets at his grandfather’s church. He also has a strong desire to ensure safety. So he watches for danger with a whistle at the ready from the edge of his family’s pool. I’ve also seen him guard his friends as they climbed a ladder to climb aboard a parade truck. At the local diner, he helps the servers clean tables.

I think we can all learn something from Rob.

Rob doesn’t consider his status. He doesn’t seek a high-level position. He simply does what is needed using his personality, abilities, and gifts. No matter how lowly, no matter how unseen, he simply serves.

Jesus perfectly modeled serving others to his disciples shortly before His death.

Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. (John 13:3-5 NLT)

Almighty God, Creator of the universe, Lord of Hosts who commands heavenly armies—this is Jesus’ status. Yet He knelt on the floor and mopped grime from the sweaty, smelly feet of each disciple with his own holy hands. Then he gently and thoroughly dried each freshly cleaned foot before moving to the next.

He could have called servants to do the job. He had the right to tell the disciples to clean themselves. He could have ignored the sorry state of their feet. But He didn’t. He assumed the position of the lowliest servant to demonstrate how we should serve others.

Maybe you are serving others in some way, but you wonder if God is really doing anything good through you. Starting with Rob’s volunteer service, consider how the following activities reveal God’s character to the ones on the receiving end.

Examples of Serving Others

• Cleaning the toilets at church adds to the ease of people joining together to worship God.

• Changing diapers teaches babies they can depend on you, and it enhances their ability to later trust in God.

• Cleaning your home alongside your children trains them to properly steward God-given possessions.

• Mentoring at a pregnancy center showers unconditional love on women experiencing a crisis.

• Teaching kids at a weekly Bible club fills hearts with God’s powerful, life-changing word.

• Earning a paycheck at your job day in and day out, year after year, provides finances for your family and shows how God provides for tangible needs.

• Volunteering at your church’s food pantry feeds hungry people in the name of Jesus.

• Socializing kitties at the humane society cares for God’s creation.

• Pouring concrete for a Bible camp pavilion in a foreign country shows kids the importance of learning about God.

Serving others for God, even if it seems unimportant, inconsequential, or ineffective, carries eternal weight. Not only is eternity changed, but you are changed in the here and now by God as you imitate Christ’s selflessness.

What if Serving Others Seems Impossible?

Perhaps you’re at a different place in life. You may be weighed down by your struggles and don’t perceive God’s person, presence, provision, or purpose. May I gently suggest that turning your focus toward serving others might illuminate God’s activity and stir new faith into your own heart and circumstances?

Know Who You Are

In reading this passage about Jesus once again, I noticed something new. The preface to His humble act of service states, “Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God,” so He served (John 13:3). Knowing exactly who He is and that He always has a secure place with Father God allowed Jesus to stoop to the lowest position of foot washer with no concern for promoting Himself.

Let that sink in. Understanding your identity as a child of God and knowing your place is always with Him frees you to follow His leading to any type of service—from the menial to the lofty.

Join the conversation:

How has serving God by serving others changed you?

I welcome your comments!