My Story, Your Glory: 5 Days to Discovering the Journey God Has Planned for YouНамуна

Day 4: My Service, Your Glory

Years ago, I wrote a song called “Do Something” that asked the question, “If not us, then who?” That song was about my tendency to look around at all the pain, injustices, hunger, homelessness, and a million other problems in our world and ask God to do something about it. The truth is that whenever I ask that question of God, His response in my heart (and as I read the Bible) is pretty convicting. It’s as if He is saying, “I did do something. I created you.”

Talk about a wake-up call! But with all the world’s problems, where do you even begin? I think of James 1:22: “Do not merely listen to the word. . . do what it says.” In other words, just do something.

Jesus explains in one of the most convicting moments in scripture that we are here to care for one another and that the stakes are eternal. If we ignore the needs of the world, He will respond to us in the same way: “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry, and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger, and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes, and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.” (Matthew 25:41–43)

Whenever I sing “Do Something” lately, it makes me think about my friend Tim Tebow. Every time I’m with him, whether it’s backstage at a speaking event or in a conversation on my podcast, he never wants to talk about his Heisman Trophy, his two National Championships, his MVP award, his pro football career, or how many touchdowns he scored.

Tim draws all his energy and passion from serving the kingdom of God by serving others. He lights up when he shares the great work the Tim Tebow Foundation is doing across the globe as they care for what Tim calls the “MVPs” (most vulnerable people). The thing I admire so much about Tim is that he doesn’t wait around for someone else to do the work when he sees a need. He is a committed servant. He is stepping into action to find ways to care for others and carry the hope of Jesus to a broken and hurting world.

Have you ever spent time in the presence of someone who is living their story that loudly? I’m not talking about how loud they preach the gospel. I’m talking about how loud their service to others preaches the good news. When you’re around someone like that who walks the walk and talks the talk, it inspires you to do the same.

I am motivated to serve when I’m around Tim Tebow. I am encouraged to serve others when I’m with Sissy Goff, who dedicates her life to counseling children. I am fired up to do something when I’m with my friend Diane in Colorado, who dedicates countless hours of her day as a board member of multiple nonprofit organizations, helping raise money for their valuable services. I am inspired by my wife, Emily, and the way that she rallies all of her friends to adopt families in need at Christmastime, providing gifts for children every year.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to serve those in need. We are called to be the hands and feet of the One who loves us so much that He died for our sins. And when I walk out my front door each day, I am supposed to keep my eyes open for Jesus. Scripture tells us that whenever we do anything for our neighbor or for the “least of these,” we are serving Him.

I know that living my life for God’s glory doesn’t have to involve my vocal cords. Sure, what we say is important, but what we do changes other people’s stories. Living my story for His Glory is about letting the life I live and my service to others speak. Following Jesus is about making the choice not to sit back and wait for someone else to do something when I see a need. I want to be able to say that I responded to Jesus’ call in Matthew 25: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”

How is God calling you to serve today? What are the needs you see in your family, church, and community? God is calling you to serve Him and play a part in the story of redemption He is writing in all of creation.

CRAFT YOUR STORY

Write down the needs you have noticed in your family, neighborhood, or community. How can you better respond to those needs with service? Write about what God might be calling you to do to help others right now and how you plan to respond.

SHARE YOUR STORY

Was there a time when you were in need and someone gave you help? How did that person reflect the love of Jesus into your life? How can you model that same giving spirit for others?