• Seeking first His kingdom.

  • Prayer is climbing up into the heart of God.—Martin Luther

  • Even a single candle can make a difference in the darkness.

  • Where God is, love is. (1 John 4:7-8)

  • God is good. All the time.

Anchor

User-friendly devotionals with audio

  • 22 Oct

    Serving Others

    A compilation

    Audio length: 14:45
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    During the Lord’s Supper in John 13, Jesus gets up from the table and washes the feet of His disciples. It is important to realize the extent of what is happening at this moment: God Himself willingly places Himself in an extreme position of humility and servitude. Even though He is their Lord (John 13:13), He takes this humble action to demonstrate two main points. Firstly, the act of washing the feet serves as a picture of Jesus’ ultimate mission: to serve humanity through His humble death on a cross, a death that washes us clean from all sin. Secondly, Jesus intends His demonstration of humility to serve as an example to His disciples (and anyone who reads the passage). Just like Jesus, Christians are called to serve the people around us in humility. ...

    By washing the feet of the disciples, Jesus not only highlights the purpose of His coming, but also seeks to set an example for Christians to follow. Having washed their feet, Jesus taught them, saying: “So if I, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash another’s feet. For I gave you an example, so that you also should do just as I did for you” (John 13:14–15). Jesus makes it clear that this is the attitude of humility that those who follow Him should adopt when they interact with others around them. Christians … are to serve their community.

    Just as Jesus (God Himself) was willing to humble Himself by becoming a man, to serve by washing the feet of the disciples and to die on a cross for our sake, we as His followers need to put aside our selfish ambitions and desires and seek the benefit of others.—Planetshakers1

    *

    We bring God glory by serving others with our gifts. Each of us was uniquely designed by God with talents, gifts, skills, and abilities. The way you’re “wired” is not an accident. God didn’t give you your abilities for selfish purposes. They were given to benefit others, just as others were given abilities for your benefit. The Bible says, “God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God’s generosity can flow through you. … Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen” (1 Peter 4:10–11).—Rick Warren

    The doctrine of service

    Being a waitress is a challenge. I know, I did it for years. In our culture, waiting tables is just a bit above collecting garbage, with all due respect to garbage collectors. It’s honest work, but let’s face it, you don’t get much respect. The hours are long, it’s physically demanding, people can be difficult, and tips miserly. Even with all that, the biggest challenge is the challenge to your self-esteem.

    Waiting on someone is the simplest example of service, and it got me thinking about the dynamics of serving. Webster’s defines “to serve” as “to be of use, to furnish or supply with something needed or desired,” and service as “to be of help, use, benefit, contribution to the welfare of others.” Webster’s also notes that the word service comes from the Latin root servitium: the condition of a slave.

    Service implies there is a lack somewhere, a need to be filled. A waitress serves because someone is hungry. In a way, all service acknowledges that we live in a broken world, permeated with “not enough”—not enough food, time, money, love, attention. The variations on this theme are endless and experienced by everyone.

    We live in a world of lack, surrounded by unmet needs and the walking wounded just like us. But even the poorest among us have something to offer, whether it is a smile, a kind word, or five loaves and two small fish. The smallest act of service goes toward patching a hole in the universe we inhabit.

    Serving others is a vote for hope. … We are trusting that we will have “enough” time, talent, or treasure to be of service and still have our own needs met. Most of all, serving others is a vote of confidence in the Creator of the universe, acknowledging that he will provide as we give ourselves away. …

    In Luke 9, Jesus was surrounded by thousands of hungry people. There were only the smallest of resources available … five loaves and two fish.

    He was grateful for what he had and lifted it to heaven with a prayer of thanks. He believed and trusted his Father in heaven for both his ability and desire to provide what was needed. And then the miracle happened. He continued to give out the food. He and his disciples served the gathering of 5,000. One translation says, “They all ate to their heart’s content; and when the scraps they left were picked up, they filled twelve great baskets.”

    The story of the loaves and fishes illustrates the abundance available through God when we approach him with gratitude and trust. This is how Jesus lived his life, trusting, serving. Let us go and do likewise. “For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves” (Luke 22:27).—The High Calling2

    Serve one another in love

    In the book of Galatians, the Apostle Paul wrote, “Serve one another in love” (Galatians 5:13). That’s a pretty tall order! Most people don’t like to be thought of as servants. They may not mind serving some people up to a certain point—their employer or customers, for example—but it’s difficult for them to think of being in a position of humbly serving others.

    It is easier to think of service in terms of serving God, because He is so majestic and superior in every way to us as human beings. It can come more naturally to say, “Lord, I serve You” to an all-seeing, all-knowing, and all-powerful God than it is to take a position of service to our peers.

    There are many verses in the Bible that teach us to put others above ourselves, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves” (Philippians 2:3), “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10), “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).

    Jesus said He “came not to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45), which means that Jesus Himself was a servant. Jesus “made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” (Philippians 2:7). If Jesus loved us so much that He was willing to take on the form of a servant for our salvation, how much more should we follow His example and serve others in His love?

    The Bible says that “Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2:21). And Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you” (John 20:21). His Father sent Him as a servant. Jesus had the love and humility to take on the form of a servant, and He asks that we follow His example of serving God and serving others. That takes a lot of humility, but the Bible teaches us to “not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased” (Hebrews 13:16).—Maria Fontaine

    Lessons from Jesus on how to serve others

    In John 13:15, Jesus sets an example for us to follow. After washing His disciples’ feet—an act of love, humility, and service—He encourages us to follow His lead and serve one another.

    “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you,” Jesus says.

    Jesus, the Son of God, the Most High King, Lord of lords, never placed himself in a position above others. He led by serving, and He loved by serving. He washed feet. He fed thousands. He walked to visit and heal the sick and dead. He stopped to touch and heal a sick woman. He spent time with those no one else cared to spend time with. Jesus lived a life of humility.

    Jesus showed us that serving others and humility go hand in hand. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:3–5). …

    To be a servant means we genuinely need to care about people. It’s keeping our eyes, hearts, and schedules open for divine appointments. Jesus was not stressed by time, what others thought of Him, or a list of tasks to accomplish each day. Jesus was led by the Spirit of God and followed His promptings to serve, love, and help others. No task was ever beneath Jesus, and no person was ever unworthy. Serving others and genuine love go hand in hand.—NewSpring Church3

    Published on Anchor October 2026. Read by John Laurence. Music by John Listen.

    1 “The significance of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet,” planetshakers.com, March 31, 2023, https://www.planetshakers.com/blog/general/the-significance-of-jesus-washing-the-disciples-feet

    2 The High Calling, “A Theology of Service,” theologyofwork.org, https://www.theologyofwork.org/the-high-calling/theology-service

    3 NewSpring Church, “Lessons from Jesus on how to serve others,” newspring.cc, https://newspring.cc/articles/following-the-example-of-jesus

  • Oct 21 Great Peace
  • Oct 19 More Like Jesus—Part 2
  • Oct 16 In the Hands of a Fiercely Tender God
  • Oct 13 We Can Learn from Mistakes
  • Oct 12 More Like Jesus—Part 1
  • Oct 8 God Is Not in a Hurry
  • Oct 6 Encouragement for Running Our Race
  • Oct 1 The Story of the Barren Fig Tree
  • Sep 30 Does Evolution Square with Christianity?
   

Directors’ Corner

Faith-building Bible studies and articles

  • 9 Jun

    The Life of Discipleship, Part 12: Everyday Discipleship

    Audio length: 22.45

    Download Audio (20.8MB)

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    Discipleship is a lifelong journey that requires perseverance, determination, conviction, the love of God, and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. The late Reverend Billy Graham once said, “The Christian’s journey through life isn’t a sprint but a marathon. … Discipleship is the commitment of a lifetime, day by day.” The process of growing in our discipleship and being transformed into Christ’s image is a lifelong task. As one person expressed it:

    We are created as rough drafts that must go through the editing process. God works to transform us step by step into a finished article that will make worthwhile reading. Our substance is reshaped repeatedly by the choices and decisions we make, the superficial and superfluous bits are purged through life’s trials, and we are fine-tuned and polished … in the hands of the Great Editor.—Scott Montrose1

    Our discipleship is meant to encompass every aspect of our lives, including our relationship with God and our daily walk with Him, and our love for others, which includes every person we encounter in our day. Our discipleship includes being an ambassador for Christ, sharing the good news with the people He places in our path, as well as being a living reflection of the love of Christ in every sphere of our lives and striving to grow in His likeness.

    We live our discipleship in our homes, the workplace, in schools, and in the community. We incorporate discipleship principles into our parenting, our relationships, and the investment of our time, skills, and resources. We strive to be a living example of our faith to our families, friends, and neighbors, and the people we interact with throughout our day and in our online communications.

    The call to be a disciple of Jesus is a call to a whole way of life. It’s a call to rearrange our priorities so that God has first place in our lives. This doesn’t mean that we won’t have other priorities in life, but our allegiance is to God first—above our own desires and will, our loved ones, our possessions, and even our own lives. Christian discipleship is not easy to live out—in fact, Jesus said “the way is hard,” but it is the path “that leads to life” (Matthew 7:13–14). It requires commitment, dedication, and placing God at the center of our lives, our decisions, and our relationships.

    In the Gospels, Jesus challenged His followers to lay down their lives for His sake and to follow Him. In Matthew’s Gospel, He said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 16:24–25).

    Denying ourselves can be understood to mean setting aside our personal desires, ambitions, and goals, and choosing to seek God for His direction in our lives and pursue His will over our own. This doesn’t mean that the Lord will never lead us to work toward our personal ambitions and goals. If we are seeking God’s will and our desire is to please Him, it’s very likely that His will and our desires will be in alignment (Psalm 37:4). However, if God’s direction doesn’t align with the direction we were leaning toward, as His disciples, we will be willing to “deny ourselves” in order to follow Him.

    Jesus gave us the key to being able to live our commitment to discipleship, starting with our spiritual rebirth through salvation. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20).

    The ability and grace to live the discipleship life come not only from our desire to obey God’s commandments and our efforts to live in a godly way, but from the power of God through “Christ in us” (Colossians 1:27) and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (John 14:15–17). “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

    Christ in Us

    Every new morning we can anticipate that the Lord Jesus Christ will express Himself through us that day and accomplish some aspect of His work, whether we can identify what He has done or not. This is our privilege, and this is our responsibility.

    For Christ to be in us gives us power. We can live effectively in no other strength than that which derives from the life of Jesus Christ, for He said, “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). And for us to be in Christ gives us purpose. It is not a power that enables us to live for ourselves, but it equips us to fulfill the plans of Christ...

    For Christ to be in us gives us resources. Everything we possibly need is ours in the Lord Jesus Christ. And for us to be in Christ gives us responsibilities. As part of His body, the most important issue I have to face is, “What [does He] want me to do?”

    For Christ to be in us is dynamic. And for us to be in Christ is demanding. If He has something to do, He has the right to use us as the means of doing it. If there is an “Ethiopian eunuch” on the desert road, He has the right to tell you to leave your Samaria and go to meet him (Acts 8:26–40). But for every demand He makes, He provides the dynamic of His Spirit within to accomplish it.

    This is the Christian life. Having faced our failure to express His likeness and image in the world, we come to the Cross for forgiveness, are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and become incorporated into Christ, to become vehicles for the expression of His life and purpose. The world desperately needs to know this but will have no grounds on which to believe it until they see the life and character of Jesus Christ lived out in your life and mine. This is God's purpose for you!—Charles Price2

    Joining His Kingdom Mission

    God has invited you to join him in changing the world. God has a dream for this world that Jesus called the kingdom of God. God created you to play an important role in his kingdom vision. You will never find your deepest purpose in life until you find your place in building God’s kingdom.

    You don’t have to be brilliant to change the world—or wealthy or influential or a spiritual giant. But you do have to say yes to the invitation. You do have to be available and willing to be used, and you may have to pay the price that comes with following Jesus, because changing the world and following Jesus isn’t easy, and it doesn’t come cheap. There will be some sacrifice involved—there always is.

    Our Christian faith is not just a way to find forgiveness for sin in order to enter eternal life, yet it is that. It is not just a system of right beliefs about ultimate truth and the order of things, though it is that. Nor is it just a way to find God’s comfort in times of trouble or a helpful code of conduct for how to live a good and productive life, though it is those things too. Fundamentally, the Christian faith is a call to … follow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and join in the great mission of Christ in our world. … Only then will we become completed people—people living according to God’s deepest purpose for our lives.—Richard Stearns3

    Conclusion: The Blueprint for Life

    As we have seen throughout this series on discipleship, the Bible teaches us about the relationship God wishes to have with us and how to live in a manner that is pleasing to Him. Growing in Christlikeness and being transformed into His likeness is the foundation for living a godly and fruitful life in harmony with God and others, which produces the fruit of His Spirit in our lives and those of others (Galatians 5:22–23). It is within the Bible that we learn truths revealed by God that we can pattern our lives after.

    In God’s Word, we find the biblical principles that serve as the compass for our lives and help us to navigate the challenges of everyday life and to be an effective witness for Christ. His Word conveys principles that guide us in our interaction with others and our decision-making, helping us to discern the difference between right and wrong. These spiritual principles set the tone for our moral standard, our ethics, our attitudes about life, love, the world, the environment, and relationships. Though the Bible doesn’t specifically deal with every possible situation that we may face, it does provide the principles needed to navigate the complexities of life in a manner that is pleasing to God.

    His Word teaches us to live out our discipleship by loving and serving others. Our love for Jesus moves us to serve others on His behalf. It motivates us to be His ambassadors in whatever situation we find ourselves. It compels us to assist those in need, and to provide hope and healing to those who have none. We can be His hands to help and touch, His mouth to speak the truth of His Word and give encouragement and hope, His eyes to convey compassion, His feet to walk alongside a weary soul, and His arms to help carry their heavy burden. In so doing, our lives will glorify Him and bless others, as the following articles highlight.

    A Beautiful Life

    When the life of a follower of Jesus is lived as Jesus intended it to be, it becomes a thing of beauty. Being a Christian and having a relationship with God should be something that permeates our daily experiences, is integrated into our decisions, and brings color to our perceptions of ourselves, others, and this life. The countless expressions of God’s love shared with others in the course of a Christian’s life may at times appear to be insignificant in themselves, yet God sees them in the context of the totality of a life that glorifies Him, and He revels in their beauty.

    The more we are determined to strengthen our walk with Jesus, and the more we desire a deeper spiritual connection with Him, the more He will be able to manifest His Spirit through us. We are His handiwork. As we allow Him to blend the hues of His love and mercy and develop the beauty of form that He intended for us, we become His masterpiece that will speak to the hearts of many. Let’s eagerly embrace the priceless gift of His presence in our lives. And as we cultivate the captivating beauty of God’s love in all we do and say, others will be drawn to Him through us.—Maria Fontaine

    Christ’s Fragrance

    The Apostle Paul wrote that the Church is a fragrance of Christ to the world: “For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing” (2 Corinthians 2:15). By this he meant that every believer, and every congregation of believers, establishes a presence of Christ in the world which is palpable to nonbelievers. …

    But what is that fragrance? How should we expect others to experience the presence of Jesus in us? In two ways, primarily: the truth of the Gospel and the love of Jesus Christ. God's truth speaks to every aspect of human life. By His Word of truth, in the hands of His Spirit, Christ is making all things new in our lives (Revelation 21:5). This means that, in every area of our lives—all our relationships, roles, and responsibilities—Christians exhibit a newness which conforms not to the spirit of the world but to the Holy Spirit of Christ. Our conversation will be different—not filled with carping and complaining, triteness and frivolity, criticism and mean-spiritedness; instead, our words will always be gracious and edifying, respectful of the people with whom we converse (Colossians 4:6; Ephesians 4:29).

    So also with the ways we do our work, raise our children, participate in the culture of our day, and conduct ourselves with dignity and grace. We are new creatures in Jesus Christ, and, therefore, in many ways, out of step with the surrounding culture. But by living the truth in every aspect of our lives we shine the light of Jesus and exude the fragrance of His worldview into every nook and cranny of our lives.

    Believers need to work hard at being the fragrance of Jesus. By steeping ourselves in God's Word and living in an attitude of prayer … we can begin to waft the fragrant smell of King Jesus into more of the everyday aspects and areas of our lives. Let us resolve to be that fragrance of truth and love, and we will find that the wind of God's Spirit will accompany us everywhere we go, sending the aroma of Jesus to all and everyone, as well as to God.—T. M. Moore4

    Jesus has entrusted us with the responsibility of passing on His personal, unconditional, all-encompassing love to our fellow men and women, to those who share the planet with us today. The commission He has given to His disciples is to take the gospel to all the world. Wherever the Lord has called you to is your mission field, and you are called to serve and reach the people He places in your path. Every one of us has some opportunity, some network, some realm in which we can be sharing His love and truth with others, strengthening people’s faith, hope, and hearts.

    May the Lord bless your discipleship and service to Him and witness to others so that you can be the salt of the earth and the light of the world He has called us to be (Matthew 5:13–14). Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). In so doing, we will be living a life of discipleship that glorifies God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

    Thoughts to Ponder

    Discipleship isn’t a program or an event; it’s a way of life. It’s not for a limited time, but for our whole life. Discipleship … is for all believers for every day of their life.—Bill Hull

    Every believer who takes seriously their vocation as a disciple of Jesus will see themselves as a “sent one” wherever they find themselves, and will look to be mobilized into action in that place. This could take the form of being a “good witness” at work or a good neighbor to those who live nearby, or it could involve volunteering.—Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch

    Don’t allow the words of Jesus to only stay printed in your Bible. Give them wings, springing them into action. There are souls in your life who need your nurture. Consider how you might show concern for their welfare, loving and caring for them the way you already love and care for yourself. When you do, you’ll be completing the chain of love that began when God first loved you.—Karen Ehman

    What the Bible Says

    “Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (John 15:4–5; John 15:8 NKJV).

    “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6–7).

    “But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life” (Jude 1:20–21 NIV).

    A Prayer for Everyday Discipleship

    Heavenly Father, thank you for saving me, calling me, and giving me purpose. You are so good, and your grace is sufficient for me. I ask that you cleanse my heart from sin and clear my mind of the distractions that attempt to draw me away from fellowship with you today. Help me abide in Christ, to learn from Him and lean on Him, so I can live for Him and lead others to Him. You are worthy of all of my devotion and praise. Make me a faithful and fruitful disciple who brings you glory every day. In the mighty and matchless name of Christ, my King, I pray, Amen.5

    1 Scott Montrose, “Life’s Editing,” Activated, January 2021, https://activated.org/en/life/the-whole-you/personal-growth/lifes-editing/

    2 Charles Price, Christ for Real: How to Grow into Christ’s Likeness (Kregel Publications, 2011).

    3 Richard Stearns, Unfinished: Believing Is Only the Beginning (Thomas Nelson, 2013).

    4 T. M. Moore, “The Fragrance of Truth and Love,” January 29, 2010.

    5 Annie McGuire, “What is a disciple of Christ?” Daily His Disciple, January 11, 2022, https://dailyhisdisciple.com/2022/01/11/what-is-a-disciple-of-christ/.

     

  • May 19 The Life of Discipleship, Part 11: Sharing Our Resources
  • Apr 28 The Life of Discipleship, Part 10: Our Work Life
  • Mar 17 The Life of Discipleship, Part 9: Discipling Others
  • Mar 3 1 Corinthians: Chapter 15 (verses 37–58)
  • Feb 17 The Life of Discipleship, Part 8: Sharing Our Faith
  • Feb 3 1 Corinthians: Chapter 15 (verses 20–36)
  • Jan 20 The Life of Discipleship, Part 7: Serving God by Serving Others
  • Dec 16 1 Corinthians: Chapter 15 (verses 1–19)
  • Dec 2 The Life of Discipleship, Part 6: Love for Others
   

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  • The Family International (TFI) is an international online Christian community committed to sharing the message of God’s love with people around the globe. We believe that everyone can have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, which affords happiness and peace of mind, as well as the motivation to help others and to share the good news of His love.

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  • The primary goal of the Family International is to improve the quality of life of others by sharing the life-giving message of love, hope, and salvation found in God’s Word. We believe that God's love—applied on a practical level to our daily lives—is the key to resolving many of society's problems, even in the complex and fast-paced world of today. Through imparting the hope and guidance found in the Bible’s teachings, we believe that we can work toward building a better world—changing the world, one heart at a time.

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  • Love for humankind

    God’s unconditional love for humanity that knows no boundaries of race, creed, or status, motivates and guides us to help meet the needs of those we come in contact with, whether spiritually or practically.

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1 and 2 Thessalonians
A study of Paul’s epistles to the Thessalonians and how these teachings apply today.
The Heart of It All: Foundations of Christian Theology
A book compiled from a series of articles covering the basics of Christian doctrine.
Living Christianity
Applying the teachings of the Bible to our daily lives and decisions.