^“Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.”
John 12:26 (NRSV)

On one of my shelves in my home office, I came across a devotional book titled Strength for Service  – To God and Country.

In May of 2003, long before this devotional book was passed down to me,  the AUMC Stephens Ministry team graciously presented it to my father and another was sent to my brother serving in Iraq at the time. It must have been special to my father, so much so that it was one of the few belongings he kept in a box my mother gave me after he went to be with the saints. Pop proudly served 21 years in the US Army. I can still hear his stories of Korea and Vietnam.

As I thumbed through this cherished memento and read through the devotional stories, I almost overlooked the heart-stirring words that were handwritten by a “serving soul” of AUMC.  It read, “May love open the cover and faith turn the pages.”

Armed Forces Day was this past Saturday and was commemorated as a day to honor those who serve(d) in our military. A heartfelt thanks to all the men and women who served and continue to serve this great country. This coming week we will celebrate Memorial Day with respect and honor to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice of life for our country. Freedom has a cost that we all benefit because of those who served valiantly.

It was just about a year ago I had the humble privilege to share the opening prayer at my brother’s retirement ceremony. He served 28 years in the United States Air Force. It was Memorial Day weekend and, of all places, in the “Hall of Heroes” room at the Pentagon. Upon entering the Pentagon, I was immediately drawn to the two American flags that were as big as a football scoreboard. Draped on each side of the mezzanine these hand-made flags included the names of the fallen from the attacks of 9/11.

 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
John 15:12-13 (NRSV)

There was a large contingency of military warriors and civilian servants in the room to honor my brother. The walls in the “Hall of Heroes” are adorned with plaques inscribed with the names of the “soldier saints” who gave it all… their very lives. I was flush with an overwhelming sense of reverence as I stood on hallowed grounds. Everyone in that room had answered the call to serve.  Oh, how I know my brother had wished our Pop could have been there to witness all this.

“Diakonia” is the Greek word for service. We are to share God’s grace in deeds of love and service to others. We extend hope and grace through healing hands that change lives forevermore. While we may have seemed to hit the pause button on congregating as a church, the service to others continues. This coming week our very own co-workers in Christ will once again support the HAAM “drive-thru” food fair. Carloads of folks will have their trunks filled with delicious, much-needed food thanks to a coalition of local churches.

Serving others is the hallmark of AUMC. It is our heritage; it is our culture. This only happens when we take a stand and declare that we will follow the Lord. It is a dedication to a life of service that distinguishes a disciple of Christ. This life of dedicated service and mission is what Jesus was sharing in Matthew 16.

“Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘if any of you want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.’”
Matthew 16: 24-25 (NRSV)

When we serve God and in turn serve others, we live out one of the two greatest commandments that Jesus gave us – “love thy neighbor.” The act of service extends beyond our own reach if we do so with faith and loyalty and sometimes, without even knowing it, we can make quite an impact.

“Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.”
Philippians 4:3 (NRSV)

You can only truly serve if you faithfully follow. Following means you declare an allegiance to something greater. This allegiance is what defines loyal service. The declaration of allegiance is what drives the love that opens your heart to serve. We serve in confidence because of the faith we have that our Lord will watch over us.

“Now therefore revere the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt and serve the Lord. Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua 24:14-15 (NRSV)

The following is the scripture and an excerpt of the prayer I shared at my brother’s military retirement ceremony and appropriate for this coming week.

Psalm 18 reminds us whose we are. “The Lord is my Rock, My Fortress and my Deliverer; My God is my Rock in whom I take refuge. HE is My Shield and the horn of My Salvation, My Stronghold. I will call to the Lord, who is worthy of my praise and saved me from my enemies.”

“Father God, we ask for shelter and cover over those special people who have answered the call to defend our country this very day. Continued grace and mercy for these exceptional people in this very room and their respective families, who share in the same commitment and sacrifice. May each service man and woman hear the prayers of their loved ones and experience the peace of Christ.”

“On this most sacred weekend, we especially honor those fallen saints who gave the ultimate sacrifice. For God’s healing grace on their families; for sacred remembrance from their fellow military; and for respectful honor from fellow countrymen. God bless this country.”

As I sat down after the prayer, I looked over at my other brother and whispered, “if only Pops could have been here.” He pulled from his pocket a picture of our Pop and whispered back, “He’s right here, I brought him with me.”

Will our names be written in the book of life? Revelations 20 says the “book of life” will be opened and the pages will be turned to see the life we lived in service, love, loyalty, and faith.

Here’s the good news. Just simply follow Jesus. It is never too late to include a bit more service on your own pages.

Off we go, into the wild blue yonder! How they lived, God only knew!

Peace be with you,

Kenny Shortsleeve, Lay Leader