January 15

Lowly Service

For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed. — Luke 1:48 BSB

What a beautiful way to describe oneself—a handmaid of the Lord. A handmaid is someone who devotes herself to serving another. A young girl becomes the Lord’s handmaid when she gives herself to Him and then spends her life living to please and serve Him. This doesn’t always mean she must leave her home and travel to a foreign land. Sometimes it does, as it did for Harriet Newell and many other young Christian women. But for most young girls, serving Christ means living for Him in the everyday moments of life.

There are many ways to serve Christ. One is simply by doing what is right. We serve Him every time we listen for His voice and follow Him. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” Another way is by helping others come to Christ—bringing them to Sunday school or sharing the Gospel. A young girl is a handmaid of Christ when she invites her friends to church. We also serve Christ by doing acts of kindness for others in His name.

When Jesus was on earth, some women followed Him, serving Him by preparing food, making garments, and doing other acts of kindness. What a privilege that must have been. If Jesus were here now, many young women would gladly serve Him in similar ways. Although He isn’t physically present today, He has told us that when we do acts of kindness to the least of His followers, it’s the same as doing them for Him. So, it’s not difficult to be a handmaid of Christ.