By Dr. Bascom Ratliff
Pastor, Parker, Beagle, and Fontana United Methodist Churches
The inspiration for today’s message is from:
Ephesians 2: 10, “For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.”
Matthew 25:40, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, just as you served the least of these who are members of my family, you did it for me. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you gave me clothing. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me.”
As I have continued my Lenten journey with Jesus, I have noticed the Ephesians and Matthew passages have taken on more meaning. We are created with the purpose. We are created to serve God and others. And, in serving others, we are serving Jesus.
Serving a risen Christ, is not a spectator sport. We are meant to actively engage and care for others. We are meant to witness our faith through our good works. We are meant to use the many spiritual and tangible gifts that we have received from the Holy Spirit to care for others.
This call to service is God’s will. When God tells us to love and care for others, he means everyone. It is much easier to care for our Christian brothers and sisters. However, it is often difficult to care for those who are not part of our church family. Actively and deliberately caring for those that do not worship like us, talk like us, or live like us, is often a hard deed.
But, as today’s passages make clear, God is calling us to do just that. To love and care for others simply because they are God’s creation and part of God’s family. God’s message is clear: We can no longer treat others as lepers or outcasts.
During this Lenten season I encourage you to consider adding something to your life rather than giving something up. Look for simple ways to serve God by serving others might be a good way of celebrating our faith as we journey with Jesus. We should ask ourselves, “what would Jesus do,” and follow his example.
Our time is one of our more valuable assets. As you think about service to others during Lent, I would ask that you consider taking a moment to write a letter of encouragement to someone who is suffering or maybe visiting someone who is in a nursing home or is homebound. And praying for someone who suffering or ill is always a good use of time.
When we open our hearts and minds to doing God’s will and serving others, we will be a blessing to others. God will bless us. And as we further open ourselves to God’s will, God will give us opportunities to serve and to witness our faith in a loving and risen Christ.
Lent is a great time to learn about sacrifice and service. It is a wonderful time for experiencing and sharing God’s great love. Consider God’s great love and begin developing an attitude of doing good in the name of Jesus. We are created to serve a loving God by serving and caring for others. We were created for a purpose. Let’s follow Jesus through Lent by being active servant!
_______________
If you want to hear more about God’s wonderful promise of unfailing love and enjoy a great morning of music and fellowship, please come and worship with us.
We will worship at the Fontana United Methodist Church during March.
We will worship at the Parker UMC during April.
We will worship at the Beagle UMC during May.
All Sunday services are at 10 a.m.
We will have Holy Thursday services at Fontana on March 28 at 7 p.m.
We will have Good Friday services at Parker on March 29 at 7 p.m.
Easter Sunday Sunrise services will be at Beagle on March 31 at 7 a.m.
Regular Sunday services will be at Fontana on March 31 at 10 a.m.
All are welcome to worship in God’s House.
Dr. Bascom Ratliff (913-710-5748)
Pastor, Parker/Beagle/Fontana
United Methodist Churches