Message: Embracing Selfless Service: The Path to True Fulfillment ()6/24/''24)

Message: Embracing Selfless Service: The Path to True Fulfillment Dear Friends, In our modern world, we often hear a singular refrain: preserve yourself, promote yourself, fulfill yourself. This is the anthem of our age, echoed in the pursuit of success, the accumulation of wealth, and the desire for personal recognition. Yet, amid this chorus, a different melody calls out—a radical song sung by Jesus Christ. It’s a melody that speaks of losing to find, giving to receive, and dying to truly live. Jesus’ teachings challenge the core of our contemporary values. He invites us to step away from the shallow shores of self-promotion and into the deep, transformative waters of sacrificial love. “For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it” (Mark 8:35). These words, though challenging, are a call to a higher, richer way of living. In a society that measures greatness by the number of servants we command or the power we hold, Jesus redefines true greatness. He strips away the false crowns of this world and invites us into a kingdom where the greatest is the one who serves. “For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). True greatness, according to Jesus, lies in our ability to serve others selflessly. This message strikes at the heart of our cultural understanding of success. Success is not found in wealth or status but in the ultimate act of love and sacrifice. Jesus’ life and death serve as a testament to a different kind of ransom—one not paid with gold or silver, but with His own life. This ransom sets us free from the chains of sin and death, and it calls us to follow in His footsteps, to lay down our lives for the sake of others. Living out this calling requires a significant amount of faith and willingness to take risks. It means stepping out of our comfort zones, embracing uncertainties, and trusting that in losing our lives for His sake, we will find a deeper, more fulfilling existence. This kind of faith is not for the faint-hearted, but Jesus assures us that this path leads to true life. Each day presents us with opportunities to live out this radical call. In our daily decisions, we can choose honesty over deceit, generosity over greed, humility over pride. These small, everyday choices bring the gospel to life. They allow us to put others first, to see the image of God in every face, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Consider the life of Mother Teresa, who left behind a life of comfort to serve the poorest of the poor. Her life echoes Jesus’ teaching that true greatness is found not in being served, but in serving others. In her selfless service, she found a profound sense of purpose and fulfillment, a life that was truly rich and abundant. As we walk this path of selfless service, we are transformed. Our lives become a reflection of His love, a beacon of hope in a world that desperately needs it. By choosing to lose our lives in service, we find a life that is abundantly full, a life that resonates with the heartbeat of heaven. This is the path to true fulfillment. It’s a journey that leads us into the heart of God’s kingdom, marked by love, sacrifice, and a deep, abiding joy. It’s the way of the cross, the way of true greatness, the way of Jesus. May we embrace this call with courage and faith, knowing that in losing our lives for His sake, we will find them truly. Blessings, Pastor Steven G. Lee (June 24, 2024)