Serving Him by Serving Others

It is amazing what God is doing in Food for Life Ministries. Our primary ministry is to the homeless and less fortunate in Greenville. However, in the last couple of years we have seen many different churches and schools increasing participate as volunteers. It seems that we have become a ministry for different groups that have a heart for serving, but otherwise would not have a place to express that desire. As an example, this week we were pleased to have youth from Eastside High School, Brookwood Church, and the Evangelical Institute. It seems every week we have various groups from the surrounding community come and serve. This week we were grateful for the 28 volunteers who served 108 hot meals to our downtown friends.

The students from the Institute this week performed a powerful skit for all. It showed two individuals who had died waiting to enter heaven. While waiting, they talked about how they had performed many good works in their lifetime, that more than qualified them for eternity. They each had a bag or suitcase which contained their records as evidence of their righteousness. As they excitedly waited entrance, they related to each other in detail their many good works. When time came for entering, they were shocked to find that their names were not written in Book of Life. Angrily, they protested and attempted to produce the contents of their bags or suitcases for evidence only to be surprised to find only filthy rags. They were shocked and immediately froze. Another student came on the scene and read from Isaiah 64:6, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as fifthly rags; and we all do fade as a leaf: and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away”. It was a very powerful presentation.

Preacher Paul continued with the study of Romans in chapter 12. Starting with verse nine, it describes the blessedness of serving God and others. This is truly a sign to the others that God has the power to change lives and develop a true love from the inside out. This love can only result from a heart of humility and true desire to serve each other without expecting anything in return. Jesus said whoever desires to become great among you shall first become a servant. We are not to rely on our good works as was portrayed in the skit, but to give ourselves to help others. We can not do this on our own but only through the Grace of God. Grace is what empowers all of us to imitate Christ and know that true greatness is in serving others.

We had very sad situation. A lady had just been turned away from a local shelter where she was staying. We don’t know all of the circumstances, but we do know she was on the street on a very cold night. Fortunately, the men can sleep in the gym at the mission but there are currently no short-term facilities for women on these cold nights. We decided to provide her a room for a few nights so she could have a safe and warm place to stay until she could hopefully make some further arrangements. Please pray that God would help her find shelter.

~Marc