Why Serving Others This Holiday Matters More Than We Think

In our journey through life, we often find ourselves searching for meaning, purpose, and direction. Just as a sunflower turns its face towards the sun, seeking light and nourishment, we too are called to orient ourselves towards the divine light that guides and sustains us. The sunflower serves as a powerful metaphor for our spiritual journey. Like this remarkable flower, we are meant to be diverse, generous, and life-giving. The sunflower doesn't keep its bounty to itself; it provides nourishment for birds, offers seeds for human consumption, and even produces oil for various uses. In the same way, we are called to share our gifts, talents, and resources with those around us, extending beyond ourselves to promote life and well-being in our communities. Be willing to take risks and move beyond what is familiar to grow in your faith. Challenge yourself to engage in activities that stretch your understanding and reliance on God. But what does it mean to truly live a life of faith? It's not enough to simply acknowledge the existence of God or to receive His blessings passively. We are required to take intentional steps out of our comfort zones, moving beyond what is familiar to us. This is how we open ourselves to receive the full benefits of God's kingdom and allow Him to recreate us in His divine image. The Gospel of John recounts a powerful interaction between Jesus and a crowd that had followed Him across a lake. Jesus, in His omniscience, recognized their true motives. He challenged them, saying, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." (John 6:35) This statement was met with resistance, even among His disciples, who found the message harsh. Many turned away, no longer following Him. This encounter illustrates a fundamental truth: it is not enough to simply hear the word of God or to seek Him for temporary satisfaction of our earthly needs. We are called to a deeper, more transformative relationship with the Divine. We must be willing to step out in faith, even when the path seems challenging or unclear. Actively seek out ways to help those in need, regardless of their background or circumstances. Show unconditional love and compassion, especially to those who are marginalized or overlooked. In the first epistle of John, we are reminded that God is light, representing all that is good, pure, true, holy, and reliable. As children of God, we are called to walk in this light. But what does this mean in practical terms? Walking in the light means aligning ourselves with God's will and way. It means rejecting division, exclusion, and prejudgment. We cannot claim to be followers of Christ while harboring darkness in our hearts or actions. Jesus had strong words for the Pharisees who burdened people with the law but showed no compassion. He challenged their hypocrisy and called them to a higher standard of love and service. The parable of the Good Samaritan beautifully illustrates this principle. While religious leaders passed by a man in need, it was the Samaritan - someone from a marginalized group - who stopped to help. He didn't ask questions about the man's identity or background; he simply saw a fellow human in need and responded with compassion. This is the kind of love and service we are called to emulate. As we strive to live out our faith, we must remember that belief is not just a thought process. It encompasses our heart, mind, and actions. It's about living out our convictions in tangible ways that reflect God's love to the world around us. Continuously seek God's light and reflect it in your life, especially in challenging times. Be a source of hope and encouragement to others through your actions and attitudes. Consider the story of the Calendar Girls, a group of church women who were inspired by a gardener's love for sunflowers. The gardener pointed out that sunflowers "trumpet life" - they proclaim and announce it through their very existence. Their heads follow the sun across the sky, always seeking the light, no matter how weak it may be. This is the kind of faith we are called to embody - a faith that constantly seeks the light of God, even in the darkest of circumstances. A faith that proclaims life and hope through our actions and attitudes. A faith that, like the sunflower, is diverse in its expressions and generous in its giving. As we navigate the complexities of life, we must remember that there is only one true way - the way of Jesus Christ. He declared, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) This is not a call to exclusivity, but an invitation to a transformative relationship with the Divine that impacts every aspect of our being. Living out this sunflower faith means being willing to risk, to step out of our comfort zones, and to extend ourselves for the sake of others. It means being light in dark places, ministering to those who are hungry, lonely, imprisoned, or naked. Jesus reminds us that when we serve "the least of these," we are serving Him. As we cultivate this sunflower faith, we become living testimonies to God's love and grace. We become beacons of hope in a world often shrouded in darkness. We become conduits of divine light, reflecting God's love to those around us. Let us embrace this calling with open hearts and willing spirits. Let us turn our faces towards the divine light, allowing it to nourish and transform us. And let us, like the sunflower, be generous in sharing the bounty of God's love with the world around us. In doing so, we fulfill our purpose as children of God, living out the prayer that His kingdom would come "on earth as it is in heaven." May our lives be a testament to this sunflower faith - always seeking the light, always giving, always proclaiming the life-giving power of God's love.

Why do we gather for worship? In a world where we can connect with God anywhere, anytime, what's the purpose of coming together in a physical space? These are questions that challenge us to reflect on the true meaning and impact of corporate worship in our lives. It's easy to fall into the mindset that God is only present in church, that our spiritual lives are compartmentalized to Sunday mornings. We may give God fleeting thoughts throughout the week, but often fail to recognize His constant presence in every moment. This limited view of worship can lead us to treat it as a duty—something we do for an hour each week before returning to our "real" lives. But what if worship is meant to be so much more? The truth is, we don't come together simply to worship God—though that's certainly part of it. We gather to be shaped by our worship, to be transformed in ways that impact how we live when we leave the building. Our time of corporate worship should change our hearts, broaden our perspectives, and equip us to live differently in the world. Consider how gathering with diverse believers challenges us to expand our view of the global church. When we worship alongside those who may not look like us, believe exactly as we do, or come from our background, we get a glimpse of what the triumphant church in heaven will look like—a multitude from every nation, tribe, and tongue. This experience breaks us out of our tendency to surround ourselves only with those who are similar to us. Our acts of worship also shape us in practical ways: Offering our tithes and gifts teaches us to live generously beyond the walls of the church. Reading Scripture together equips us to encounter God's Word on our own throughout the week. Praying for one another's joys and sorrows reminds us that God is at work in the world and that He hears our prayers. Receiving a benediction and blessing sends us out with strength for the days ahead. The blessing we receive isn't just for our own benefit. Throughout Scripture, we see that God blesses His people so that they can be a blessing to others. From Abraham to the nation of Israel, God's pattern is clear: "I will bless you... so that you will be a blessing" (Genesis 12:2). As we leave our time of worship, we should overflow with blessing to everyone we encounter. This leads us to a crucial question: If our lives are no different when we walk out of church than when we walked in, what was the point? If we haven't truly encountered the living God, been challenged by His Word, or been moved to live differently as His disciples, then our time together has missed the mark. As followers of Christ, we believe that our faith journey is incremental. We don't become perfect the moment we decide to follow Jesus. Instead, it's a daily process of growing in our love for God, for His people, and for His creation. Each day, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we strive to demonstrate that love more fully in our words and actions. This is the essence of discipleship—a continual journey of becoming more like Christ. While we believe it's possible to be made perfect in love during our earthly lives, it's not something we can achieve on our own or claim for ourselves. As John Wesley wisely noted, those who believed they had attained perfection in love were often the furthest from it. So why do we gather? We come together to be commissioned, to be reminded of Jesus' call to His disciples: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel" (Mark 16:15). This isn't about forcing our faith on others or cornering unwilling listeners. Rather, it's about being prepared to engage with those who are questioning, searching for meaning, or struggling to find hope. Despite what headlines might suggest, the world isn't dominated by militant atheists or those adamantly opposed to faith. Instead, there are countless individuals who are simply unsure, who have genuine questions about life's purpose and meaning. Our call is to live in such a way that our faith stands out—demonstrating joy, peace, and an unshakable assurance grounded in our relationship with God. Your story of faith doesn't have to be a dramatic before-and-after tale. Perhaps you've grown up in the church, gradually deepening your relationship with Christ over time. That journey is just as powerful and worth sharing. The key is to reflect on how your time in worship impacts the other 167 hours of your week. As our worship experience shapes us, it should naturally overflow into a different kind of worship outside the church walls: Giving thanks to God for His blessings Offering hope to the hopeless Praying for those who are hurting Seeking out those who are lost or questioning Our task isn't to have all the answers or to dictate what others should believe. Instead, we're called to listen, to walk alongside those who are searching, and to share how God has worked in our own lives. This is how we can see transformation and healing in our communities. Ultimately, our weekly gathering serves to recharge us spiritually. When the world beats us down and we feel our spiritual batteries draining, we come together again to pray, sing, hear God's Word, and be blessed and sent out anew. We remind each other of who we are in Christ and find the strength, hope, and courage we need for the week ahead. This is why we gather. This is why we worship. Not just as an end in itself, but as a means of becoming who God has called us to be—His hands and feet in a world that desperately needs His love. As we leave our time of worship, may we go with this commission ringing in our ears: to welcome the unwanted, to love the unloved, and if they won't come to us, to go to them. Let our worship be more than a weekly ritual. Let it be the catalyst that transforms our lives and, through us, brings hope and healing to our world.