How do we serve others?
Paul tells us to serve each other by love…
‘by love serve one another.’
There are many practical ways we can lovingly serve others but as I was reading this passage I thought of two less obvious ways we can serve.
We can serve with our ears and with our lips.
Friends, if we belong to Jesus, the way we listen and the way we speak reflect on Him, our Saviour.
Today I wanted to focus on listening as it’s an area God has been working on in my heart lately.
How often have you been in conversation with someone and instead of giving your whole self to listening to them, you’re only half listening while you’re thinking of what you’ll say in reply?
Solomon tells us that…
”He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.’
How we need God to help us to really listen!
Friends, we strengthen and affirm one another when we listen well but good listening is something that we have to make the effort to learn.
The old saying says that a trouble shared is a trouble halved. What a privilege to help lift the weight of someone’s burden just by listening!
Yet how often do we not listen well, because, frankly, we’re too preoccupied with ourselves, eager to jump in with our experience rather than just being there for them?
Friends…
Listening is WANTING to hear not just with our ears but with our heart and mind!
‘Counsel (or purpose) in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.’
Our listening makes others feel loved and worthwhile, it also helps them to clarify and process their thoughts and it’s such a beautiful way that we can serve one another.
So friends, let’s be seeking grace that we might…
‘be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:’ and give those we come into contact with, the gift of listening with all our heart and mind.
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Gal 5:13, Prov 18:13, Prov 20:5.
Encouraging Women to Seek and Abide... 