Serving Challenge: An 11-Day Life-Changing Journey to Serve Like JesusSample

Day 4 Serving Like Jesus: Jesus's Availability

Today you will look at how Jesus made Himself available to the people and situations before Him and what we can learn from His example.

Have you heard of the phrase "hurry sickness?" It is a behavior pattern characterized by rushing, anxiousness, and an overwhelming, persistent sense of urgency—even when there's no need to be moving fast.

This phrase was coined in a 1974 book by cardiologists Meyer Friedman and Ray Rosenman.

Have things gotten more or less hurried in the last five decades? If people were already experiencing this sickness in the '70s, how much more today with technological advances like texting, digital streaming, social media, same-day delivery, etc.?

We have a lot to learn from Jesus. Before Jesus would begin His ministry and overcome death itself, we have this beautiful line in the Christ Hymn of Philippians 2:

"Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing..."

Before Jesus gave His life for you and me, He first made Himself nothing. He made Himself available by coming down into this world as one of us. When theologian Dallas Willard was asked, "What do I need to do to be spiritually healthy?" he responded, "You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life."

Hurrying is something I struggle with. I love to plot out my day, block time on my calendar and put checkmarks by the tasks completed. I hate being bothered when I've got a full day of to-dos. Many of my tasks are creative—writing sermons, reading, researching, and writing books like this. PEOPLE ARE INTERRUPTIONS when I'm in the middle of my creative time.

Jesus didn't see people like that. Here was a man with the world's weight on His shoulders, yet He was fully present and in control. His calendar was full, but He was also readily available to the opportunities put before Him each day. How do we accomplish what we feel God places on our hearts to do and simultaneously be available?

Challenge:

It's possible for you and I do to one thing to help at least one person today. Get out a sticky note, or put a reminder in your phone and write "Do One for One Today" where you will be reminded of it. Then, "Do One for One Today" in some way, shape, or form.