It wasn’t a long flight, but it was nice.  Rarely have I been waited on like that.   It was first class.

So what made the trip so much better?  In a word – service.  I had hot towels, real glasses, and better food than people just three seats behind me.  There was one flight attendant for nine people where I was sitting, and one for the rest of the plane.  I got on the plane first and got off the plane first.  I had a bigger seat and more leg room.  How did I get it?   It was given to me.

I had never met the flight attendant before, but she treated me like I was special.  A few days later I got survey from American Airlines.  It was very specific.  It’s focus . . . well you’re not surprised, it was about the service.  It wasn’t hard to fill out.

The airlines motivation is making money.  The motivation of the church is love.  It’s not hard to figure out – people respond well to being treated well.  The issue at hand for the church is whether or not it’s members are focussed on giving service or getting service.  Unfortunately, in many churches the latter category is in the ascendency.  Very subtly we are all being turned into consumers who have multiple businesses competing for our dollars.  Even churches have been scrambling to win religious patrons.  Notice I didn’t say converts.  I am appealing to our membership, and all who read this blog to be certain that we walk in the way of Jesus who being in the form of God, humbled Himself and came as a servant, even to the point of dying for us.  Words fail me – the words “first class” don’t even begin to comprehend the absolute condescension of the heart of love.

We can’t earn it, and we don’t deserve it, but we can say thank you by walking in His steps.  I hope everyone we meet receives something special from us.  Simply put – loving service.  It’s the best method.  It still works, and it needs no gimmicks to succeed.  Try it at home, try it at work, and try it at school.  You’ll like it, and the people around you will like it too.  And the church will be fragrant with the scent of heaven.

There is an old adage that says “You cannot, not tell your story.”  Think about it.  It’s a double negative.  It is impossible to keep what is in your heart from spilling out.  So I ask you, what is in your heart?  What do you love to think of and what do you love to talk about.  Is there a root a bitterness that is polluting the well spring of life?  Or is there joy in spite of suffering, in spite of difficulty and disappointment?

I read this morning from the book Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing.  It was the section on the golden rule.  I’d like to share a few of the thoughts with you. “When those who profess the name of Christ shall practice the principles of the golden rule, the same power will attend the gospel as in apostolic times.” MB 137.2   This seems pretty simple to me.  At least it is simple to understand.  I’d like that kind of fragrance and power for our church.  I can’t choose it for you, but I can choose it for myself.  That’s what Jesus is asking from all of us.

So don’t miss the chance today to take the next step.  Keep it simple. Guard your heart.  Just ask yourself what you would like done to you, said about you, and then you’ll know how to relate to your husband, your wife, your child, even your boss or your teacher.  The golden rule is the “one comprehensive principle covering all the relations of human fellowship.” MB134.   So as you can see, you don’t need to have gone to the seminary to figure out Christianity.  You just need to grab the simplest of all loving concepts, and begin applying it.   One step will lead to another. And won’t be long until your life has new power.  It will be the power of love.  Let’s keep it simple and let’s keep going to the kingdom together.