Crucified in Service

By Chaplain (Col) Stephen W. Leonard, USA, Ret.

Giving Tuesday was this week. Possibly, you were completely unaware. But you do not need a particular Tuesday to give of yourself. Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday work just as well: every month, every year. Giving yourself to God first of all is the way to die to yourself and give flesh to Galatians 2:20. How is it you might consider yourself as crucified with Christ?

Philippians 2 expresses how you might have the mind of Christ, indeed love as Christ loved. How is that? By doing nothing in selfish ambition or conceit, treating others in humility as better than yourself. Jesus, though equal to God did not grasp that equality to Himself, but took the nature of a servant. He served others, and in so doing, He served God.

So you, by being crucified with Christ, take His nature, that of a servant, by giving yourself in humility and love to others, treating them better than yourself. By serving others through the crucifying of yourself, you become like Christ. Giving yourself in this fashion is no easy task. It requires the very strength of Jesus. “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13.

I realize in my elderly age that simply living requires all my time. Taking medicine, eating, sleeping, exercising, and simple hygienic tasks, take so much time. I move slower, with less energy, with much more effort and

aches and pains. Serving others is the last thing on my mind when I can barely take care of myself.

Yet, I am called to consider others as better than myself. One who is nearest to me and therefore available for my help is my wife. I therefore can serve her best. And all others that God places in my path, or I can seek to serve in the crucifying of myself.

Those with more energy and youth need to especially search out others whom they can serve. There is never lack of those who need our humble service. All which is needed is a willing and giving spirit, the sacrifice of being crucified with Christ before the opportunity flees with age and health. In eager expectation of hearing the words from the Savior’s lips, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

Encouragement