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Day 37 – Service
How often do you step back to reflect on the communities that define you? In a culture that glorifies personal success and rugged individualism, it can be easy to forget that none of us are truly self-made. What influence has your residence hall, your sorority, your church or your student organization had on you? What opportunities have you been given due to your parents, your friends or the schools you’ve attended? The communities we take part in define us.
Community is an essential part of the human experience. Our God, as Trinity (three persons in one), exists as a community unto himself. As we are created in his image, it is only natural for us to long for community. God recognized that it was not good for man to be alone, which is why he created Eve as a helper for Adam (Genesis 2:18). This indicates that Adam needed help! This is why we gather in churches—because having an edifying and supportive community is critical for walking in the light.
In Galatians, Paul shares the beautiful truth that through Christ’s death we are now freed from the condemnation of the law and justified by faith (Galatians 3:24). Now free from the law, its regulations and its curse, we have a newfound liberty in Christ. But this call to liberty is not a selfish call to do as we please. Rather, the freedom we are given from the law is to be used in service to one another (Galatians 5:13).
So as you take part in various communities this year, I challenge you to think about what it means to live sacrificially in those communities. “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). This is a prompting, a command, to move beyond your own motives and to choose a road of hardship. Taking part in others’ burdens is not about your convenience or happiness; it is about sharing the love of Christ.
Taking this command seriously makes for communities that have meaning—communities that exhort people to serve better, lead better, and love better. None of us live in isolation, so intentionally choose each day to develop this type of Christ-centered community. Don’t leave what your community becomes up to chance—choose to define your communities as those of Christ-like sacrificial love.
EVAN VAUGHN
Residence Director, Maddox Hall
How often do you step back to reflect on the communities that define you? In a culture that glorifies personal success and rugged individualism, it can be easy to forget that none of us are truly self-made. What influence has your residence hall, your sorority, your church or your student organization had on you? What opportunities have you been given due to your parents, your friends or the schools you’ve attended? The communities we take part in define us.
Community is an essential part of the human experience. Our God, as Trinity (three persons in one), exists as a community unto himself. As we are created in his image, it is only natural for us to long for community. God recognized that it was not good for man to be alone, which is why he created Eve as a helper for Adam (Genesis 2:18). This indicates that Adam needed help! This is why we gather in churches—because having an edifying and supportive community is critical for walking in the light.
In Galatians, Paul shares the beautiful truth that through Christ’s death we are now freed from the condemnation of the law and justified by faith (Galatians 3:24). Now free from the law, its regulations and its curse, we have a newfound liberty in Christ. But this call to liberty is not a selfish call to do as we please. Rather, the freedom we are given from the law is to be used in service to one another (Galatians 5:13).
So as you take part in various communities this year, I challenge you to think about what it means to live sacrificially in those communities. “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). This is a prompting, a command, to move beyond your own motives and to choose a road of hardship. Taking part in others’ burdens is not about your convenience or happiness; it is about sharing the love of Christ.
Taking this command seriously makes for communities that have meaning—communities that exhort people to serve better, lead better, and love better. None of us live in isolation, so intentionally choose each day to develop this type of Christ-centered community. Don’t leave what your community becomes up to chance—choose to define your communities as those of Christ-like sacrificial love.
EVAN VAUGHN
Residence Director, Maddox Hall
About this Plan
This 40-day prayer plan was written by students, faculty and staff at Belmont University as a daily devotional for incoming freshmen. Each day guides and encourages new college students in their faith in Jesus Christ through the word of God and the sincere thoughts, seasoned advice and honest prayers of the contributing authors. May these words help you grow in your love for God and your love for others!
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