"Bound By Service"

Let my heart be bound to Thee!
Through daily service given free!

To each and every child here born!
A friend, a mentor, a disciple sworn!

To follow Thy Spirit, and feel its warmth!
To never cower, or choose remorse!

To practice pure love, and charity!
To serve Thee God, with integrity!

That I might one day sit by Thee!
A king, a priest, eternally!

POET'S COMMENTS

If there were a scripture to sum up this poem about service, it would be found in the New Testament, the First Book of John:

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God." (1 John 4:7)

We as Christians, speak of the desire to return to Our Heavenly Father. The fulfillment of that desire comes about by serving others daily; just as the Master served!

Our hearts are bound when we step into the sandals of Him who sought out the needy on the dusty roads of Galilee. Who can forget His parable of "The Good Samaritan."

"And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise." (Luke 10:30-37)

When our hands and hearts are extended to the sick, to the orphan, to the widow, to the lonely; we discover the miracles of healing, lifting, and loving. These are the things that so often Our Savior taught by example. He is quoted:

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12)

His admonition was as follows. "Come! Follow Me! Do as I do!"

Through Jesus, Heavenly Father taught us a great truth about the Day of Judgement.

"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

This scripture is found in Matthew 25:40. The words should echo in our thoughts each passing moment! Our love, for Our Heavenly Father, is shown by our actions to His children!

Becoming one with God does not merely occur by praising His name, kneeling in prayer, or reading the Holy Scriptures. It comes by seeking and serving. It is the application of praising, prayer, and scripture study that assists us in becoming one with the Father and the Son.

When we serve our brothers and sisters, we are fulfilling the will of the Father. It is part of an eternal covenant, and the baptismal promise that we made with Him! It is perhaps our strongest witness and testimony of being "born again." Doing the will of the Father!

When service occurs without hesitation or reluctance, we are exercising the pure love of Christ. We become clothed in charity, and the warmth of His Spirit is manifested through us. It is through this process, that we become perfected. It is by loving as Christ loved that we glorify Them!

May our integrity and honesty before God be revealed through our service to His children. May we one day be worthy to sit near His holy throne forever! This is my prayer and great hope for all those, who profess to love and follow Him.