Serving with Our Whole Beings

Martin Luther King Jr. Day falls every third Monday in January. Every year, many eagerly await a day off from school to sleep in, watch tv, lounge around, and do nothing. But how does that honor Dr. King's Legacy? How does that pay tribute to a man who fought so hard for civil rights in this country that he died for it?
 
The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King was a fierce activist and civil rights leader in this nation. But he was also a fierce social justice warrior for the Lord. As a follower of Christ, he was motivated by Christ's love to serve Him and struggle for His Kingdom. He was also motivated by Christ's message to care for his fellow man. In a sermon he preached in Montgomery, Alabama, Dr. King stated, "Christianity is hard because it demands a dangerous and costly altruism; It demands that the “I” be immersed in the deep waters of the “thou”".
 
Dr. King knew that as followers of Christ, we are called to set aside our own personal wants and needs to bring about God's Kingdom here on earth. Not only that, but we are called to completely put "ourselves without reservation at the service of Christ and his kingdom" (Martin Luther King, 1956). During his 11 years of service to this country, Dr. King modeled this by putting himself in harm's way time and time again. He was arrested over five times, his house was bombed twice, and he was stabbed with a letter opener. Yet he, like the apostle Paul, "press[ed] on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called [him] heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14). He followed God's commandment to love his neighbor as himself until the point of death.
 
While few of us are called to put ourselves into such violent circumstances, we are still called to serve the Lord with our whole beings and that looks like serving others with our whole beings. On Martin Luther King Day, recognized as a National Day of Service in 1994, we have the opportunity to put that into practice and honor Dr. King's legacy by serving our family, friends, and community. This year, I challenge you to find a way to reflect God's heart for His people by serving someone near you. Whether it be volunteering in your hometown or putting salt on the ground to protect your neighbors in the snow, find a way to truly honor Dr. King's legacy and serve the Lord with all of your heart.

Author | Stephanie Seda