The Lightest Burden: Teach me Jesus--growing hearts of service

On Thursdays, I've been working on developing our parenting philosophy.

Going hand in hand with teaching my children compassion, I hope that our family also has a heart of service.

Grace will have to be at work deep within us to give us a heart like Jesus. My first prayer is for God to grab hold of my children's heart that they will know Him through Jesus Christ. I'm dependent on Him, because I know that it is only a work of God that any of us can come to Him. In all that I teach and show them, God's Spirit must move in their lives.

If they truly do love God, service to Him and His people will be the result. Throughout Scripture we see that to love God means to love others. It is not a requirement to love God or get in better standing with Him. Rather, it is evidence of the work of God in our lives.

"14 What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. 18 But some will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder. 20 Do you want to be shown, you shallow man, that faith apart from works is barren? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by works, 23 and the scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness"; and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead." James 2:14-26

^"16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? ¹⁸ Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:16-18

³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’" Matthew 25: 31-46

Scripture paints a very clear picture that to love Jesus, we love and serve His people. How will I teach my children to serve others? I will teach them about Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. If they know Jesus, it is inevitable that they will serve others.

The Three T's: Time, Treasure, and Talent: (not sure where I got this, but it's probably not original)

Time. To serve others we cannot count our time as our own. We should hold our plans loosely and be willing to give our time to others as need arises.
Treasure. All of our possessions are not our own but to be shared and enjoyed and given away.
Talent. We are each gifted with different talents that can be used to serve the kingdom of God. Whether it be art, story telling, administration, building, any gift can be used in various ways to benefit others.

Practically, there are many ways that I can see how this might look. I hope to give opportunities for them to serve in our house, our church, our community, and our world.

Some ideas: