Love and service go hand in hand.

Service in the church can be tough. It is often thankless, forgotten, or overlooked. Whether it is caring for our little ones in nursery, working the sound booth, serving at VBS, going on that mission trip, visiting widows, or getting up early for that yearly church workday, service requires something more than mere obligation. It requires love. What does true service say about you?

First, service to the church shows you love the church, and are committed to keeping your covenant vows. What reason could be given for loving the church? After all, the church is full of sinners! Some of them even have the audacity to sit in my spot in the sanctuary! Kidding aside, yes, the church is full of sinners. Yet, we must remember what kind of sinners. They are redeemed sinners! They have been plucked from Satan’s kingdom and drawn out of darkness. They have been Chosen by God, covered with Christ’s blood, and stamped with the Spirit. God loves his bride with perfect love. Do you love her? Then serve her selflessly.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:3-5)

Second, service is how you love Christ. Let’s go to our theological tool belts and pull out this doctrine called union with Christ. Every believer has been permanently bound together to Christ. He has put his name on them. So much so that if you hate God’s people, you hate Christ! Don’t believe me? Just ask Paul on the Damascus road (Acts 9:4). This also means that to love Christ’s people is to love Christ himself. The Lord has given us to each other, that we may abound in love for him. When you look at the church, do you see Christ? When you see the saints, do you see the one they are connected to? When you serve the body, you are truly serving Christ.

Let your love be stirred up. Remember Christ who loved you and died for you. Remember the body he has brought you into. It is a body of sweet fellowship, divine worship, and costly service.