Emulating a “Servant God”

In this month’s issue of our church newsletter, the PFLC Visitor, our associate Pastor, the Rev. Alison Shane, right, made a wonderful – but perhaps a bit intimidating – Epiphany observation in her remarks:

“Nothing makes God-with-us more tangible for people than when we serve them. In our actions of service, people catch a glimpse of God’s work on earth.”

Stop. And let the implications of that thought sink in for a moment.

Pastor Alison continues in her comments, “A servant God is a very different image than many people are used to. Popular religion holds up a God who is ‘in control,’ whose ‘will is done’ in everything that happens to us, even in death. But a servant God comes in the midst of the brokenness of life and comforts, washes feet, and carries the load. God comes and says, ‘Sin has caused a broken world, and many things in life are therefore senseless. But I am here with you, and I have redeemed you and this world. Together now we walk through life.’”

She then gives us our core impetus for Christian service (living out our vocation, in Lutheran terminology): “When we serve, when we walk with others in service to them, they can catch a glimpse of our servant God. As we walk with them, they see God walking with them, and we are bearing Christ’s light to the nations.”

Thanks, once again, Pastor Alison, for cutting right to the quick and shedding important light on our mission as followers of Christ. Thanks be to God.