Serve Others in Love
“But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” Galatians 5:13
“Do to others…” “Others second, yourself third.” “Treat others the way you would want to be treated.” I think we’ve heard these little instructions and reminders so many times that we have forgotten their meaning along the way.
Sophia Bush (my soul sister) once said, “Let’s really live it for awhile. Today the sun shines for you. Music plays for you to dance to. The stars in the sky twinkle to inspire you. Life is a gift. Just for you. Now take that feeling of beauty and humility and gratitude and let it shine out of your eyeballs when you smile at strangers. Make them feel like the world is for them too.”
Oh, Sophia. You speak to our souls! I think it’s important for us to feel that this life we have been given is a gift made special just for us. But in return, let’s give that incredible feeling to the people around us. It’s our job as Christians!
Galatians 5:13 says, “Use your freedom to serve one another in love.” Love should be the basis of all we do. Think about it: if every word that we said, every action we performed, and every hug we gave was stemmed from love, the world really would be a better place.
Sometimes it’s hard to give our love away when we are serving others. It seems easier to keep it locked inside and saved for a rainy day. But when we do that, it becomes our second-nature. That’s the last thing the Bible tells us, though! Galatians tells us to serve one another in love. John 15:12 reminds us to “Love each other as I have loved you.” Serve each other in a way that shines God’s light and do it with all the love in your heart!
Think about the amazing counselors you’ve had at camp. Haven’t they loved you well? Take inspiration from them and serve your sisters, brothers, classmates, cousins, cabinmates, or people you don’t even know just the same. Take time from serving yourself and serve others instead.
I remember when I lived in Spain I got a care package from my sorority sisters filled with letters of love and American goodies. Even from 2,000 miles away, they were serving me with love. Showing someone you care doesn’t have to be costly, nor does it have to be a service project. Serving someone can be in any love language! All that matters is that you are someone who makes others feel that the world was made special just for them. Choose to do so in every moment of your life.
It seems only appropriate to close with a One Tree Hill quote: “If you had a friend you knew you’d never see again, what would you say? If you could do one last thing for someone you love, what would it be? Say it, do it, don’t wait. Nothing lasts forever.”