Today I Choose to Serve...

Today I choose to serve. To serve God wholeheartedly and to serve others.
It is really easy to convince ourselves that we don't need to serve. As Christians we have our list of excuses that often hold us back from serving. Things like saying we'll pray about it, I mean praying about serving is good, but we can't pray for too long...we have to move! We can also easily convince ourselves that someone else will just take care of that need. After all we are busy people with lives and how could we possibly add one more thing to our busy schedule. I think that finding balance in our lives is important, but we still have to serve! And if life is getting in the way of serving then I think that something needs to change in our priorities.
I think Paul's words to the people of Philippi in Philippians 2:1-11 is a perfect challenge and explanation of what it means to be a servant.
"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Jesus Christ came to serve and there is no question about it; we are supposed to serve as well.
One of my favorite examples of a servant and following God's plan is Mary. I love her answer to the angel in Luke 1:38, "'I am the Lord's servant, ' Mary answered. 'May it be to me as you have said.'" Then the angel left her." Do we have the kind of willingness? Do we value God's plan and his purpose for our lives more than our own plans and desires? I want to have that kind of willingness! I want to be all in, willing and available for God to use me as he sees fit.
So, today I choose to serve. To emulate Christ's humility in my life and become a servant!