To understand the full importance of the spirit of service in the closing period of earth’s history, we should consider how it was revealed in the life of Jesus. He was born into our world to serve humanity and to demonstrate by His own example God’s attitude toward people. We know little about Christ’s life before His baptism, but when He was presented to the world as the long-awaited Messiah, His life became one unending ministry. Even now, our Savior serves humanity day and night, desiring to draw everyone to Himself.
When Satan, in the wilderness of temptation, offered himself as the object of worship, Christ answered: “It is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.” The enemy of souls could not withstand such a rebuff.
Serving and worshiping God provide special protection from the power of the devil. The very act of such service helps me look to the invisible God in Whom I believe and to Whom I give my best time and strength. God, in turn, gives me His blessings so that I may experience special joy in serving Him and my neighbors.
In the example of Jesus, we see how He desired what was good for people and did everything possible to make their lives better, more meaningful, and more joyful. The Savior healed every kind of sickness, raised the dead, and restored the sorrowful and weary to the joy of life, drawing strength for all of this from Heavenly sources. He gave us an example of true service. And while meeting people’s physical needs, Jesus also provided spiritual bread for thirsty souls.
I have always been amazed that He chose a small number of disciples and never left them, serving them in word and deed even as He moved on from everyone else. When Jesus came to a place, He carried out His ministry there and then continued on. The seed was sown and bore fruit. No one knew where the Lord would appear next, but Christ never left His chosen disciples.
As I reflected on my own ministry and on what I could do for God in my life, I closely observed what was taking place in the church so that I could understand what results each kind of activity produced, what worked better, and what was not always successful. I noticed that my greatest joy comes from serving those who have already set out on the path of truth and dedicated their lives to God but still know very little, even though they already bear the name of Christ. These people have a greater need to be served, for they already belong to God: they are hungry and desire nourishing, wholesome food. It always pains me to see every effort directed toward people who do not need salvation or have no interest in it, while our own people are neglected, their flame dies down, and they perish, sadly returning to the place from which the Lord rescued them.
I am not responsible for another person’s choice, but I can help by giving that person something that will sustain a smoldering flame or kindle an unquenchable fire of love and happiness.
Our School of Love is also devoted to serving those who are already with Christ but do not know what to do next, or who have become entangled in their cares and are losing their hold on God’s hand. Love presents the plan of salvation to people very simply and opens beautiful prospects for spiritual growth and renewal. It is accessible and appealing to every level of society, but the mind of a person who belongs to God is already tuned to this wavelength and longs to fathom the depths of God’s heart, to grow, and to rise still higher in this knowledge.
Jesus poured all His love and all His knowledge into His disciples, while they went about arguing over which of them was the greatest. The Lord answered them that the greatest would be the one who became everyone’s servant. I can imagine their surprise and the disappointment of their ambitious claims and expectations. Yet the example of Christ’s life said exactly this. When the Lord died, rose again, and ascended to the Father, the disciples understood very clearly what Christ’s mission had been and what was expected of them. After receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, they began to serve and, within a short time, accomplished an immense work among the people of their day.
Ministers of the Gospel have always been the objects of God’s special care and the targets of Satan’s attacks. Their lives are constantly in mortal danger, but through God’s protection and the ministry of angels, these servants continue to do the work that bears witness to the world of God’s love and the plan of salvation. Christianity has entered every sphere of society and has exerted a beautiful influence on the worldview and culture of many peoples.
The beauty of service lies in the fact that God’s love is revealed to the world through my deeds for the good of others. It may be a simple conversation or something commonplace, but when it contains the motive of love and the desire to make the lives of others better and more beautiful, another person’s heart hears this voice and is drawn to it. Love reveals itself in action when I begin to move and direct my strength toward service.
The forms of service are clearly varied and diverse. It may take place in a personal meeting or in a virtual setting, but the spirit of love invested in every deed is conveyed by God to other people.
I have sometimes noticed that the very emotions and motives I put into ordinary letters are experienced in exactly the same way by those to whom I send my messages, even though I remain unseen.
Consider the Bible. Its writers did not know that their letters would be studied throughout the world or that these writings would be revered as the Word of God. Yet we have them, and through His Spirit the Lord reveals to us depths in Holy Scripture that even its writers may not have fully understood.
Every act of our service is supported by the Holy Spirit and exerts a tremendous influence both on those whom we serve and on those who serve.
I remember an occasion at a camp meeting when the cafeteria workers left after a long day of labor, but one sister remained behind to finish small details that could easily have been left undone. She dried the wet dishes, swept the floor, arranged everything neatly, and looked around the room several times to make sure everything was in order. Then, satisfied with her work, she went to rest. I sat off to the side, admiring this person’s attitude toward God’s work. No one saw her except me, and I do not think she saw me either, but I was impressed by such dedication, and later we became friends. I noticed that she is diligent in every task and will not rest until everything has been done accurately and properly, without drawing needless attention to herself. Even now she quietly labors for God, performing work that no one may ever notice or appreciate as she edits Spirit of Prophecy audiobooks. I remember the words that whoever is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much, and I am continually convinced that this is true.
Even if, from a human perspective, we fail to notice something in the service of others or in our own service, God sees everything, and not even the smallest detail escapes Him. Our little deeds mean more to Him than many great accomplishments. Just remember the account of the poor widow and her two mites. What a small thing—and yet what a tremendous influence her act had upon God’s work, and how many hearts were opened to God because, despite her need, she decided to give all that she had. We do not even know her name.
Do not be afraid to put your love into everything you do for God, even if no one sees you. Angels watch us, and they are deeply moved when they observe our dedication; with special tenderness, they minister to us.
Bible verses for this chapter:
1 Peter 4:8–11; Galatians 6:3–10; Hebrews 1:7, 13–14; Matthew 23:11; 24:44–51; John 12:26; 13:12–17; Mark 9:35; Deuteronomy 28:45–47; Luke 16:10–12; Isaiah 61:6