How Can We Selflessly Serve Like Christ?

Selfless Service: Tapping into God’s Energy

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the call to serve others like Christ did? It’s a daunting task, isn’t it? As I was preparing this week’s message, I found myself wrestling with this very question: How can we actually live out selfless service in our daily lives? The good news is, we don’t have to do it alone. Let’s dive into Philippians 2:12-18 and discover how we can tap into God’s energy to serve others selflessly.

The Struggle is Real

In our small group discussions, two questions came up that I think many of us can relate to:

1. How often can we really have the mind of Christ when sacrificially serving?
2. When we serve, how do we actually know if we have the mind of Christ?

These are great questions because they highlight the tension we feel between our calling and our human limitations. It’s easy to get discouraged when we realize how often our motivations are selfish, even when we’re doing good things.

Depend on God’s Energy

The key to selfless service isn’t trying harder in our own strength. Instead, we need to depend on God’s energy working in us. Philippians 2:13 says, “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” The Greek word used here for “works” is where we get our English word “energy.” Isn’t that amazing? God Himself energizes us to serve!

This divine energy does two things:

1. It changes our desires (to will)
2. It gives us the power to act (to work)

When we tap into God’s energy, He not only gives us the desire to serve selflessly but also the strength to follow through.

Avoiding Selfish Service

What happens when we rely on our own energy instead of God’s? We tend to fall into two traps:

1. Grumbling: Quietly complaining about serving others
2. Disputing: Openly fighting for our rights and privileges

Both of these responses reveal a heart focused on self rather than others. But when we allow God to work in us, we “shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15). Our selfless service becomes a powerful testimony to those around us.

Holding Fast to the Word of Life

So how do we access this divine energy? Philippians 2:16 gives us the answer: by “holding fast to the word of life.” We need to cling to God’s Word and its promises. As Jesus said in John 17:17, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”

When we immerse ourselves in Scripture, God’s energy begins to flow through us. His Word changes our desires, motivations, and actions. It may not always feel like it’s making a difference, but Paul assures us that our labor in the Lord is never in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Putting It Into Practice

Here are some practical steps to help you tap into God’s energy for selfless service:

1. Start each day in God’s Word: Even a few minutes can make a big difference.
2. Pray for God to change your desires: Ask Him to align your will with His.
3. Look for opportunities to serve: Be intentional about putting others first.
4. Reflect on Christ’s example: Remember His ultimate act of selfless service on the cross.
5. Celebrate small victories: Thank God for moments when you choose selflessness over selfishness.

Remember, selfless service isn’t about perfection; it’s about progress. As we depend on God’s energy and stay rooted in His Word, He will gradually transform us to be more like Christ. So let’s embrace this journey together, knowing that “he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).