Ponderings

In just a over an hour, I'll be headed to Columbus with a group of 9 students who are excited to give their spring break to serve others in need. As my friend Heidi and I have been preparing this trip, God has spoken a lot to me about the role of service in evangelism. Time and time again He keeps bringing me back to Mark 10:45: "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many." I don't think I fully gasp the meaning of that verse yet. I can take it at face value, but I think there's more to unpack.
My hope is that over this extended weekend, He'll show me exactly what that looks like. I want to be like Jesus - I want to serve rather than be served. I want to lay down my life - my choices, my preferences, my opinions - for the betterment of others. I want to sacrifice so that they may have eternal life.
Something else that's been on my mind quite a bit is relationship. Friendships aren't easy. They take a lot of work, but they're worth it. All the hard work and effort is worth the reward that a close friend brings. Then I think about Jesus and all the work He put and still puts into having relationship with us. I've fought hard for some of my friendships - but never as hard as He has. And I wonder if I value that effort like I should? I really don't think I do. When I think about it, He truly pursues me. He doesn't let me wander off. He doesn't stop caring for me. He never gets frustrated and gives up on me. Even in the times when I haven't wanted to be with Him, He still gently brings me back. His persistence is astonishing.
What if I had the same kind of persistence with people in my life? What if I loved people the way He loves us? What if I loved people around me so much that I served them before taking care of my own desires? What if I put others' needs above my own? What if I sought out relationship for the purpose of sharing Jesus with the people I see on a regular basis?
All of this sounds basic to my head - things I've been taught and practiced to some extent since beginning college. But, I think God's ingraining this deeper in my heart. He's redirecting how I look at life and allowing me to see situations and circumstances not just physically but spiritually as well. My eyes have been opened to a whole new world of possibilities.