Each year in Darby, Montana, our Volunteer Fire Department hosts a full turkey dinner—complete with pie—for the community. Despite the cold, rainy weather this year, a day when staying home sounded especially appealing, I headed down the hill to join friends for the annual feast.
But something didn't feel quite right.
Firefighters spend countless hours serving their communities, often at great personal cost. Former firefighter, captain, and EMT Dave Scruggs described the work this way: being a firefighter can be utterly exhausting. Whether battling a wildfire or a structure fire, they can finish completely drained after hours of hauling heavy, hot, often wet gear.
And yet, in recognition of their hard work, the firefighters of Darby host a dinner for us? What an incredible gesture of service.
Really? We should be hosting a dinner for them—not the other way around!
As I thought about their selfless act, I was reminded of another Servant.
For three years, Jesus tirelessly served those around Him. He fed the hungry, healed the sick, comforted the brokenhearted, restored sight to the blind, raised the dead, and taught truth to all who would listen. In one of His most powerful acts of humility, He even washed His disciples' feet.
Then He gave the greatest gift of all—His life.
Luke 22:44 tells us, “And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly; and His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”
And John 15:3 reminds us, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.”
Jesus didn't simply talk about love. He demonstrated it through a life of service and sacrifice.
Like dedicated firefighters everywhere, selfless acts reveal how deeply someone cares. A heart willing to serve often sees a need and simply responds—not for recognition, applause, or reward, but because serving others matters.
Perhaps that's what a true servant's heart looks like.
Today's song of prayer comes from the Maranatha Singers:
“Make me a servant—humble and meek. Lord, let me lift up those who are weak. And may the prayer of my heart always be: Make me a servant today.”
Jesus taught us this same truth in Matthew 20:26: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.”
In God's Kingdom, greatness isn't measured by how many people serve us, but by how willingly we serve others.
Closing Prayer
Lord, give us a heart of service. Help us to love as You loved, serve as You served, and lift up those who are weary or weak. May our lives reflect Your deep love so others can see You more clearly through us. In Jesus' precious name, Amen.
