June 25th, 2026
Good morning, church family!
It has been said that behind every successful man, there is a loving and supportive wife . . . and a very surprised mother-in-law! I have to say that is certainly true in my case. Angela has walked faithfully and shared in ministry with me for 44 years. As for the second part of the saying . . . unfortunately I never got to meet her.
As for Peter’s mother-in-law, she may not have been surprised but was definitely blessed by the Apostle’s call to and developing connection with Jesus. Matthew recorded an instance when Jesus was a guest in Simon’s home. Upon his arrival, Jesus found Peter’s mother-in-law in bed with a fever. Dr. Luke let us know this was a “high fever” and Peter’s family, sensing the severity of her illness, “asked Jesus to help her” (Luke 4:38).
Jesus simply “touched her hand and the fever left her” (Matt. 8:15a). As Jesus healed many that day both before and after his time in Peter’s home, this healing is not unique. But what Matthew noted next has long caught my attention: “she got up and began to wait on him” (Matt. 8:15b). “No sooner had he healed her than she busied herself in attending to his needs and to the needs of the other guests. She clearly regarded herself as ‘saved to serve’” (Barclay).
That seems to provide an answer to a question I have fielded many times throughout my ministry: “Why doesn’t God just take us home after our conversion?” It would make things a lot easier; I get that. But I think Peter’s mother-in-law would respond this way: “Because it is not just about us. We are saved to serve.” It is not just about my salvation or my healing. It is about the touch of God on my life which allows me to not only serve him but also his people.
The Bible is quite clear that each of us has been given gifts from the Holy Spirit to employ in service to others. Paul put it this way: “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good” (I Cor. 12:7). Spiritual gifts are not given to enrich our lives or make us the center of attention. They are given to be used in ministry to bless those around us. In other words, we are “saved to serve.”
Later in his life, Peter wrote this: “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms” (I Pet. 4:10). The word Peter used and is translated as “various” comes from a root meaning a tapestry. The implication is when each of us faithfully uses our spiritual gifts for the good of others, God weaves them into a tapestry creating a beautiful picture of his grace. In other words, we are “saved to serve.”
Rejoice that Jesus has touched you and brought healing and restoration to your life. No matter your brokenness, leave it behind. You can “[get] up [begin] to wait on” those around you so they can be strengthened, and the Lord can be glorified. We are “saved to serve.” Let’s be successful in serving and so bring a smile to the Lord’s face . . . and another surprise to our mothers-in-law!
Blessings,
Pastor David
It has been said that behind every successful man, there is a loving and supportive wife . . . and a very surprised mother-in-law! I have to say that is certainly true in my case. Angela has walked faithfully and shared in ministry with me for 44 years. As for the second part of the saying . . . unfortunately I never got to meet her.
As for Peter’s mother-in-law, she may not have been surprised but was definitely blessed by the Apostle’s call to and developing connection with Jesus. Matthew recorded an instance when Jesus was a guest in Simon’s home. Upon his arrival, Jesus found Peter’s mother-in-law in bed with a fever. Dr. Luke let us know this was a “high fever” and Peter’s family, sensing the severity of her illness, “asked Jesus to help her” (Luke 4:38).
Jesus simply “touched her hand and the fever left her” (Matt. 8:15a). As Jesus healed many that day both before and after his time in Peter’s home, this healing is not unique. But what Matthew noted next has long caught my attention: “she got up and began to wait on him” (Matt. 8:15b). “No sooner had he healed her than she busied herself in attending to his needs and to the needs of the other guests. She clearly regarded herself as ‘saved to serve’” (Barclay).
That seems to provide an answer to a question I have fielded many times throughout my ministry: “Why doesn’t God just take us home after our conversion?” It would make things a lot easier; I get that. But I think Peter’s mother-in-law would respond this way: “Because it is not just about us. We are saved to serve.” It is not just about my salvation or my healing. It is about the touch of God on my life which allows me to not only serve him but also his people.
The Bible is quite clear that each of us has been given gifts from the Holy Spirit to employ in service to others. Paul put it this way: “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good” (I Cor. 12:7). Spiritual gifts are not given to enrich our lives or make us the center of attention. They are given to be used in ministry to bless those around us. In other words, we are “saved to serve.”
Later in his life, Peter wrote this: “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms” (I Pet. 4:10). The word Peter used and is translated as “various” comes from a root meaning a tapestry. The implication is when each of us faithfully uses our spiritual gifts for the good of others, God weaves them into a tapestry creating a beautiful picture of his grace. In other words, we are “saved to serve.”
Rejoice that Jesus has touched you and brought healing and restoration to your life. No matter your brokenness, leave it behind. You can “[get] up [begin] to wait on” those around you so they can be strengthened, and the Lord can be glorified. We are “saved to serve.” Let’s be successful in serving and so bring a smile to the Lord’s face . . . and another surprise to our mothers-in-law!
Blessings,
Pastor David
Recent
Archive
2026
January
February
April
2025
October
2024
2023
January
February
March
April
August
September
December
2022
January
February
September
No Comments