The Hidden Ways We Serve Jesus

Reflection

Whenever I hear the word serving, I picture busy waiters darting between tables, balancing trays and rushing from guest to guest. Or I see Martha in the kitchen, worn out and anxious, trying her best to prepare a perfect meal for Jesus and His disciples. I don’t know why I so often equate serving with stress and exhaustion, but it’s easy to believe that serving Jesus has to look like hard, heavy, visible work.

We can also fall into the idea that serving belongs to those with ministry titles. The pastor preaching week after week, the missionaries overseas, the church leaders planning and leading. And while those are beautiful and important roles, the truth is this: serving Jesus through small acts is just as holy.

It is easy to measure value by size. A large offering. A powerful sermon. A long missions trip. And again, these are good things. But sometimes, we forget that serving Jesus often looks quiet and small.

In Matthew 25, Jesus tells of people who served Him without even knowing it. They visited the sick, fed the hungry, clothed the poor. These were not grand gestures performed on a stage. These were personal acts of compassion, many of which the world would never notice. But Jesus did.

Serving Jesus through small acts may look like checking on a neighbor, praying with a friend, forgiving someone who doesn’t deserve it, or preparing a meal for someone in need. It is found in the ordinary places.

Sometimes, I have to remind myself not to look down on simple service or to think something only has value if it’s hard, public, or praised. God sees differently. What He values most is a willing heart and faithful hands.

We serve Jesus when we love others in His name. We serve Him when we stop and notice the overlooked. We serve Him when we show kindness no one else sees.