THE BEAUTY OF SERVING ONE ANOTHER

Every time I watch news in the television or read the headlines in the morning paper, I can’t help but see the agony and feel the pain in people’s hearts brought about by war in places like Honduras and Afghanistan; the crisis in India and the recent bombings in Mindanao.
I keep asking myself, when will they change? When will we change?  When will we stop hurting one another and instead help and build each other up? We don’t realize that we are not only destroying other people but ourselves and our children as well. We cry for change and it has to start somewhere.
As I was pondering all these things, I was reminded of the beauty and power of the gospel of Jesus and what it can do in the lives of individuals and people groups. The apostle Paul in Romans 1:16 declared with great conviction that the gospel is (and will always be) the power of God for salvation to those who will believe irregardless of gender, color or race.
What’s so amazing about its power is that the gospel cannot only make individuals righteous but it can also put together as one body believers from different walks of life. This new relationship is no longer characterized by highlighting our differences and conflicts anymore but by serving one another. Change MUST start with us.
How are we to serve one another? Paul gave us 3 big words in Romans 12 as to how we can serve and sustain our relationship with each other.
Mercy (vv. 1-2).  Paul exhorts us that we should no longer think of the “I”s but start to think of the “we”s. The “you” being referred here (“present your bodies…”) is not singular but plural meaning “you all” and not just “you (sing).We as one body must “present our bodies to God in worshipful service” By experiencing God’s tender mercies, we are able to become instruments of God for righteousness and service (6:13). This, for Paul, is the good, pleasing and perfect will of God (v.2).
Grace (vv. 3-8). This is his next big word. Grace means blessings or favor. It can mean a lot of things in Paul’s mind. In this particular passage, it means gifts or special abilities God (Holy Spirit) bestows to bring about the mutual nourishment of God’s people symbolized by the body and it’s different parts. On our own, we would rather focus on ourselves - our needs, concerns and even what we want. But because of the bond of the Spirit which unites us, we begin to think more highly of others. We begin to use the “special abilities” that we have not to benefit ourselves anymore but for the good of others especially the “weak” (1 Corinthians 12:21-26). These “graces” from God enables us to see ourselves and relate as a body and not just an “amputated” part of it.
Love (vv. 9-20). This is the last but obviously not the least. In fact, for Paul, this is the most important virtue of all; the one thing from which all virtues flow; the crown of them all.
Why is love so important? Because love makes everything possible. The possibility of being good and hating evil; of being devoted in honoring one another instead of despising them; of sharing and showing hospitality to those who are needy; of praying, comforting and be patient to each one; and most of all the willingness to forgive and not to bring the offense ever again.
There is hope and that hope comes in the realization and the application of the gospel. The realization that we have been made into one body with different parts and the application of this truth through mutual service.
We can and we should continue serving one another. This is the fruit of our genuine faith in Jesus. “As the fruit grows naturally and untiringly from the tree, we should also serve one another unceasingly”.

Martin Luther King jr. said  “Everybody can be great . Because anybody can serve…You only need a heart full of grace… A soul generated by love. And if I may add, “a mind transformed by God’s mercies”.

by Rev. Chris Santos
Breadcom Quezon City Pastor

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