A Service We Never Imagined
By Dean Collins
Do you ever find yourself doing what you could have never imagined doing? Sometimes we shock ourselves when we sin in ways that we never thought we were capable of. The apostle Paul was clear that “all have sinned,” and while we easily put ourselves in the “all,” we often fail to understand just how shameful our sins are. When we realize our sin, we are overwhelmed by the love of God, that he would send his son to die so that the penalty of our sin would be paid.
When we come to faith in Christ, we may also notice that we serve in ways that we could have never imagined. When we are changed by the power of the gospel, the Holy Spirit moves in us to change our attitudes and behaviors in significant ways.
Joseph of Arimathea was a righteous man who was seeking the kingdom of God. He was a well-respected member of the Sanhedrin. But sometime during Jesus’ ministry, Joseph had begun to wonder and consider Jesus. John tells us that Joseph was a disciple, though he had kept it a secret because of his fear of the Jews.
After it was confirmed that Jesus was dead, Joseph did what needed to be done; he overcame his fear of Rome and of members of the Sanhedrin and requested that Pilate give him the body of Jesus so that Jesus might have a proper burial. I feel certain that Joseph would have never in his wildest imagination thought that he would one day take a political and personal risk to request the body of the one he believed to be the Messiah and had been crucified. It was a bold and generous act of service to the one who had changed his life.
For some reason, as I read Proverbs 29:7 today, I thought of Joseph of Arimathea.
“A righteous man knows the rights of the poor; a wicked man does not understand such knowledge.”
I don’t know if Joseph heard Jesus deliver the message that we find in Matthew 25. You know the one: “In as much as you have done it to the least of these you have done it to me.” Joseph knew that in this moment of service, Jesus had made himself the least of these so that everyone might be saved. Joseph did a humble act of service when he took Jesus’ body to be buried in his own tomb. A wicked man would have never considered such a kind and generous act of service for one who had been crucified.
Often, we think that those who are on the stage preaching or singing, or maybe serving as an elder in a church, are the roles that we should all aspire to. Jesus didn’t suggest that. He called for everyone to simply humble themselves and care for the least of these.
Take a moment and ask the Lord to show you the ways that you might be willing to do something you never thought you would do by quietly finding someone to bless today in the name of Jesus.
Father, continue to change our hearts and minds, that we would choose to care for those in need today and every day. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Proverbs 29:7; Mark 15:42-47 ESV
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