Servant's Heart!

For Sunday, June 29, 2025:

Luke 14:11 NLT, Jesus speaking: “Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

A disciple of Jesus should look and act the part. In Jesus’ example, those who think more highly of themselves than they ought may be (embarrassingly) asked to step back. The humble have left room to be moved up, to be honored.

Remember that Jesus came not to be served, but to serve others. If we are to follow in his footsteps, we need to have a servant’s heart. No one could ever repay Jesus for healing their malady. He was kind and helpful without any expectation of repayment.

There’s a saying attributed to the army advising soldiers to never volunteer for anything. Too much extra work, and you never know what you’re getting yourself into. There’s a persistent negative attitude in today’s world where a person’s first response is to say “no.”

But Christians should do the opposite of that. We should be helpful, showing kindness to others, doing the next right thing, because that’s what Jesus would have done. Our first response should be to say yes, or at least find a way to help.

One more thing. Stick with what you’re good at. Ministry is sustainable if we stay in our lane, using the gifts and talents given to us by the Almighty. Jesus talks about rewards for doing the right things: “God will repay you on the day the good people rise from death.” I’m good with God’s promise!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Mission Trip!

For Tuesday, November 5, 2024:

Nehemiah 6:8 CJB: “I, Nehemiah, sent Sanballat this answer; ‘Nothing like what you are saying is true. You’re making it all up in your head.’”

Nehemiah was the cup-bearer for king Artaxerxes I. In spite of Nehemiah being his servant, the two had become friends. Nehemiah was sad, having received news that the town of his ancestors, Jerusalem, laid in ruins. The king, sensing the importance of this issue to his friend, offered to help.

In fact, it seems the king was all-in! Nehemiah requested to return to his homeland to rebuild the wall around the city, a small army as a protective escort, timbers and other building supplies from the forests, and letters to foreign governments explaining his mission and requesting safe passage. Every request from Nehemiah was granted by the king, and he was off!

The lesson here is that when God puts a mission on your heart, you need to get going. That’s what Nehemiah did! He could have ignored the whole thing, explaining that he was only a servant in an occupied land, but he did not ignore God’s call. Our lesson is to get going and let God overcome the roadblocks.

Nehemiah not only restored the city; he restored the Law of Moses in Israel. Hearing the scripture, all the people chanted, “Amen! Amen!” as they lifted their hands. Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Mission accomplished!

May each of us have the heart of Nehemiah when the Lord calls us to a mission!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Servants First!

For Thursday, February 1, 2024:

Mark 9:35b NLT, Jesus speaking: “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”

In spite of traveling with Jesus and hearing everything he taught, even the disciples still didn’t get it. Love, kindness and serving others were central to Jesus’ teaching. But when left to themselves, the disciples’ discussion quickly turned to who among them was the greatest.

It’s natural to want a secure position in the pecking order of life. So we need to align our goals with our Savior’s. He says that the greatest will be the one serving others. The greatest will welcome little children. “Anyone who welcomes a little child on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.”

Therefore love, kindness and serving others is the path to honoring our Lord. We’d best try to do what Jesus taught!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Humble!

For Tuesday, November 23, 2021

Matthew 5:5 NIV, Jesus speaking: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”

Jesus is continuing “The Beatitudes,” part of his Sermon on the Mount. He’s promising that if the believers remain humble, God will bless them while they’re here on earth.

The meek are happy, joyful and spiritually prosperous. They’re living in God’s favor – living in anticipation of promised salvation. They have hope. I’m reminded of Jesus with a towel over his arm washing the disciples’ feet – in other words, having the heart of a servant, figuring out what you could do that would be helpful. That’s being meek.

Step #7 in a 12-step recovery program says, “Humbly ask Him (God) to remove our shortcomings.” It occurs to me that “humbly” is the only way to approach God. If we need help in our lives (and we all do!,) it wouldn’t make sense to approach God with belligerence and arrogance. He is God, creator of everything, and we are the ones needing help, and it would behove us to keep that relationship in perspective. If we approach God humbly, Jesus says we have hope!

God is God, we are not, and that’s good!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

WWJD

For Saturday, April 17, 2021

John 13:15 NIRV, Jesus speaking: “I have given you an example. You should do as I have done for you.”

My father taught me that when faced with a negotiation or some kind of difficult decision, he’d run it through his little test: “Is it right - is it fair - is it honest; should we be doing this thing?” It reminds me of those “WWJD” items, reminding us to ask ourselves, “What would Jesus do?”

Our founding pastor called me yesterday, concerned about the safety of our city. With the Derek Chauvin trial nearing an end and the recent killing of Daunte Wright, we’re once again faced with a rash of civil unrest. He believes the church proffers hope for the city, and I agree! The church can anchor a biblical perspective toward solving our city’s problems, where everyone could step back, take a deep breath, and first ask themselves, “What would Jesus do?”

What Jesus would do would be the right thing to do!

Blessings and safety today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406