A Little Help: By God & For God

Hello!

Here I am back with the continuation of our series: By God and For God! I hope you enjoyed the previous articles.

As you may know, in this series, I tell you about the languages ​​of love.

If you are joining us this week for the first time, have you ever heard of it? Otherwise, here's a short explanation.

An American pastor, Gary Chapman, wrote about this and explains that there are 5 languages ​​of love, 5 ways of showing and receiving Love. And that's what I suggest you discover during this summer. I start each article with a quick explanation of what it is (really, it won't be long), and then I talk to you about how we can use the said language of love in our relationship with God. I believe He allowed us to have these languages ​​for a reason, and I believe that reason is that all of these ways of relating to God are worth living. All this pleases Him! Likewise, He shows us His love for us through all these languages.

Today, let's talk about acts of service.

What is that ?

Some people feel loved when we do things for them, when we help them accomplish goals, or when we simplify their lives a bit. These are small gestures that make them happy. Warning ! It's not about doing all the chores of some lazy people, it's just about making someone happy through our actions for them.

How to live this with God?

It is not very easy. Indeed, when you think about it, God is spirit. It means we can't really help him do anything. However, His word offers us a very simple way to serve Him: it is to serve His creation, to love our neighbor.

Jesus showed us this when he spoke to his disciples: 

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’  “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’  “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. (Matthew 25: 35-40)

The King in this passage is God. I think this is all pretty clear, right?

But of course, it can also be to go vacuuming an elderly person, to visit the sick, or even (be careful, it's controversial) to give money or food to someone in the street.

Finally, one way to serve God is to serve in His church. Once again, we see the importance of a community of disciples of God. Indeed, serving in daycare, teaching at the Sunday school (the club) or even helping those in charge during tax time, it helps to advance the kingdom of God.

If you have special gifts, I invite you to use them to serve people. One of my gifts, for example, is writing. If I didn't know how or didn't like to write, you wouldn't have this in front of you. If you serve without expecting anything in return, it means that you have achieved the goal: you are serving God and you know that he will do the rest. And your actions glorify God, reflect Him, and can help other people meet Him.

How does God show it to me?

Again, it's pretty complicated at first. Since the previous question, He has not changed: He is still spirit. So how can the Spirit serve me?

First, God sends the Holy Spirit to us to speak to us and establish His ministry. In simple terms, He comes to help us to do the work that He has given us: “ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (John 14:26: the word that describes the Holy Spirit actually means "help" in the original version).

God also helps us to pray to Him: " In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God." (Romans 8: 26-27).

To attribute even more to the Holy Spirit, we can read what Paul said "I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done—  by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ." (Romans 15: 18-19).

Finally, God serves us through "little" things on a daily basis: thoughts that help you make wise decisions, meeting people who make you realize the goodness of God, finding a note in your door. -leave while your card does not pass when buying your lunch, the incident at work that made you avoid a road accident ... But also, the loss of a device that allows you meeting someone who will become your best friend, going through a time of illness for a miraculous cure, or even a pandemic that allows many to meet Christ or get their lives back on track. If you want more examples, I will invite you to read the testimonials in the "My life, His plan" section of the blog.

But all of this is God showing us His love (and I didn't even mention Jesus' sacrifice for our salvation ...)

I hope this has given you a new perspective on loving God and seeing God's love for you,

Be blessed abundantly,

Do.