When God-given faith is active in a believer, love and service to others will also be active. The apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Timothy 1:14, that the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This faith and love was not only to be an intellectual agreement with biblical statements about faith and love, but it was to be a living faith that actively works through love to serve others on behalf of Jesus Christ.
As we have learnt in previous lessons, faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour brings transformation of our hearts and actions by the Holy Spirit. And it is the Holy Spirit who leads us to care for others as an expression of faith working through love (Galatians 5:6).
Faith gives birth to love, and it is love that motivates us to serve others selflessly. Jesus is our greatest example as Mark 10:45 tells us, for even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Jesus, being Lord, did not hesitate to humble Himself to serve by doing even the most slave-like tasks. We see this on the night before His crucifixion, when He should have been receiving full support from His disciples, instead Jesus serves by washing the feet of these 12 men, including the feet of betraying Judas Iscariot (Jonn 13:2). Jesus immediately explains the application of what He had just done. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you (John 13:14-15).
Loving service is a wonderful expression of God’s grace. Although we have read it many times, James’ reminder is good for us in this matter, faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead (James 2:17). James said this just after challenging his readers that if a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? (James 2:15-16). Our faith must be experienced by others, and practical loving service that meets the needs of others is the vehicle that delivers our faith. This practical expression of love will often open the heart for the recipient to receive God’s Word.
Similarly, the apostle Peter picks up this principle in 1 Peter 4, when instructing believers about using their spiritual gifts for the Lord and others. 1 Peter 4:10 reads, as each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace. Then Peter adds, whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies – in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 4:11).
God is glorified in our lives when faith in Jesus Christ is displayed through doing works of grace to others with the determination and selfless strength that God provides. As each believer has received a gift for this purpose from the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4-7), believers should accept responsibility to know what their gift is and to look for people to use their gift with. We see this principle operating in 1 Thessalonians 1:3, where Paul rejoiced over the believers in Thessalonica. Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. It is here that spiritual truths become real world expressions of Jesus Christ for people to experience.
May this be true in all of our lives, as we live Christ together for His pleasure and His glory. Amen.
