Dear Beloved in Christ,
I am writing to you as a woman who once had the privilege of hosting Jesus, the Son of God, in my humble home. You may know of me as Peter's mother-in-law, the woman who was healed by Jesus and then immediately rose to serve Him. My story, though briefly mentioned in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, carries a message that I feel compelled to share with you, the followers of Jesus Christ.
I remember the day vividly. I was bedridden with a high fever, and my condition was dire. When Jesus entered our home in Capernaum, He came to my bedside, took my hand, and the fever left me instantly. This miraculous healing is recorded in Scripture (Matthew 8:14-15, Mark 1:30-31, Luke 4:38-39). My immediate response was to serve Him and His companions. This wasn't out of obligation or societal expectation, but from a heart overflowing with gratitude.
You might wonder why I did not express my thankfulness in words or worship. In our culture, genuine gratitude was often demonstrated through acts of service. By serving Jesus, I was acknowledging His kindness and showing my deepest appreciation. It was my way of honoring Him, not just as a guest, but as my Savior.
In your journey as Christians, I urge you to see every opportunity to serve others as a chance to express your gratitude to Christ. Serving is not about fulfilling a duty; it's a heartfelt response to the love and grace we have received from our Lord. Remember, Jesus Himself said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45).
Serving others is also about embodying the character of Christ. Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, exhorts us to have the same mindset as Christ Jesus, who took the very nature of a servant (Philippians 2:5-7). As followers of Jesus, we are called to adopt this servant-hearted attitude in all our interactions.
My dear friends, do not underestimate the impact of serving in love. Whether it's through hospitality, like I offered, or through other means like teaching, healing, encouraging, or simply being present, your service can be a powerful testament to the love of Christ. Every act of service, no matter how small it may seem, is significant in God's kingdom.
I encourage you to embrace the various gifts and talents God has given each of you and use them to serve others. Peter, my son-in-law, used his gifts of teaching and leadership to serve the early church. You too have unique abilities that God can use to bless and uplift those around you.
Moreover, serving others is not just an act of love towards them, but also an act of worship to God. When we serve others, we are serving Christ Himself. As Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).
In closing, I pray that you will find joy and fulfillment in serving others. Let the love of Christ compel you to acts of service, and may your service be a sweet fragrance, an offering acceptable and pleasing to God.
With a heart grateful to our Savior,
Peter’s Mother-In-Law, A Servant Healed by Grace
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