LEARNING TO SERVE

DAY 11 Wining Edge Devotions

JOHN 15: 12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

We live in very self-centered times. Fifteen years ago players would talk about region and team championships and today I hear a lot more about scholarships. Do you see the difference? Getting teenagers to look beyond themselves is very difficult, but I do believe that if they ever catch the vision of serving and loving others, it can be life changing.
Team service projects can do wonders in helping to teach this concept. I am always looking for ways that I can get my players to help others.

Are you down or discouraged? The quickest recovery is to serve someone else.

There are a number of things we can do daily to practice love and service.
#1- Make it a point to encourage at least three people daily. Look for honest and sincere opportunities to brag on others. Find someone doing something right and point it out. Honor those who are loving and serving well.
#2- Learn to thank all of the people who serve you. Tell them thanks and show gratitude. At my school, I like to walk around and pump up those who serve so well and get very little recognition. I love to give them caps or shirts with out logo on it.
#3- Plan how to love and serve. Get out your PDA or planner and program in time to serve. It could be as simple as a birthday card or complex as working in a soup kitchen, but give time and money to good causes.
#4 Use e-mail lists or phone directories to call and check up on people. I take two evenings a week as I drive home to scroll down my contacts and call. I always just speak a warm word or leave a short message.


I want to do a better job of thinking about others. The Christian life ultimately boils down to loving God and loving others. A way to think of this is, we can practically love God the most by serving others.

How do you read the tone of Jesus above? I read it as a warm tone. It does not strike me as a stern- YOU BETTER LOVE… I COMMAND YOU- instead it comes across as” I want you to love others and you want to”. Why? We love because of the sacrifice for us. Jesus laid down his life for us. Is it that hard to give some effort for others?

Lord, let me see the need today in others. Teach me to serve others. Please forgive my selfishness. Give me that attitude of gratitude that produces warmth and encouragement for others. AMEN!