This past Tuesday morning, April 28, 2026, my earthly father, Herbert Henry Balius, went to heaven to be with my mom. He was born on April 13, 1930, so he had just turned 96. The most memorable trait he had was his service to the Lord, helping people throughout his life. Some people are remembered for what they had; he will be remembered for who he was. This week’s blog is dedicated to him, to his heart, to his lifelong ministry serving others. What about you? What will you be remembered for? Ask the Lord to help you to start building your legacy today.
Love the Lord with all your strength, but serve Him with all His strength. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13 NKJV).
You can sometimes teach but not be a teacher. Similarly, you can sometimes serve, but not be a servant. The difference is not how much you do or what you call yourself, but who you are. A servant serves because that is what pours out of their heart.
Servants serve. Servants submit. Servants do what they’re told. Servants don’t try to lead; they follow. Servants know they will get the best when they do what’s best for their master. “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him” (John 12:26 NASB).
The heart of a servant is filled with the love of God. It is a heart that beats for the Kingdom of God, and all that God has purposed for them to do. It is the Holy Spirit who pours the love of God into the servant’s heart, and this love touches all those around them.
Our success for the kingdom is not measured by how much we have gathered, but how much we have poured out. “God is always fair. He will remember how you helped his people in the past and how you are still helping them. You belong to God, and he won’t forget the love you have shown his people.” (Hebrews 6:10 CEV).
When you serve others, you are serving the Lord Jesus Himself. Jesus came here to serve others, and He calls us all to do the same. You were saved to serve, and until you do, the life of Christ is not yet reigning in you.
You can’t be a servant without the service. Jesus taught, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…” (Mark 10:45 NKJV).
The heart of a servant has the heartbeat of Christ beating within them. They serve the Lord as they serve His children, and their service will be rewarded in heaven. They don’t serve to gain something but to give something, expecting nothing in return.
The measure of your service to the Lord is not what you earn but what you sacrifice. “But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:16 NKJV).
The more you serve others, the more content you will be. You cannot pour out too much, as God is always filling you up. But if you only serve yourself, you will never have enough, and your well will dry up and always leave you wanting.
There are more Christians who want to be served than those who are willing to serve. “Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were troubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The size of the harvest is bigger than you can imagine, but there are few workers’” (Matthew 9:36-37 CEB).
The heart of a servant is at the center of God’s will and will be blessed with a life that has meaning. It doesn’t mean God will make things easy for you, but He will always help you along the way. Nobody feels out of place in the will of God.
God doesn’t make it easy for you to serve Him because He wants to see just how devoted you really are. As His servants, we serve His purposes. “The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me…” (Psalm 138:8 ESV).
The servant of God is not burdened by their service. Serving is as natural as breathing to a servant who is devoted to the Lord. They will serve with joy even when those they are serving do not appreciate them. Heaven is watching, and that is what matters.
The best reward for God’s servants is God’s smile. “For it is not the one who commends himself that is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends” (2 Corinthians 10:18 NASB).
The heart of a servant is filled up the more it pours out. The Lord is more interested in what you do for other people than what you do for yourself. A godly heart is a giving heart, and it thrives in the midst of serving others.
The more you pour out to others, the more God will pour into you. “Are you called to preach? Then preach as though God himself were speaking through you. Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies so that God will be glorified through Jesus Christ—to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:11 TLB).
The servant of the Lord is the servant of man and is more interested in pleasing the Lord than being admired by others. The purest service you can do is what nobody else can see you doing. The more you do in secret, the more the Lord will bless you.
You will never impress God so long as you’re trying to impress people. “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10 ESV).
The heart of a servant is filled with love for other people. When you are filled with God, you’re filled with His love, and that love will spill onto those around you. Until you love the least, you don’t love Him the most.
When you realize nobody is beneath you, it is there that Jesus can work through you. “And the King will answer them, ‘Don’t you know? When you cared for one of the least of these, my little ones, my true brothers and sisters, you demonstrated love for me.’” (Matthew 25:40 TPT).
To be a servant does not mean you have to serve in some great position. Some of the greatest servants in the kingdom of God are those who are willing to do the smallest of things that get noticed the least. A godly servant serves, expecting nothing.
The lack of Kingdom work is not because Christians won’t do the big things, but they won’t do the small things. Jesus taught, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all” (Mark 9:35 NKJV).
Let the Lord show you how He wants you to serve those around you. Whether it is caring for someone older or mentoring someone younger, the Lord is looking for those who are willing to serve. Make it your heart’s desire to be the Lord’s servant.
One day doesn’t make a trend, but a thousand do. Commit your life to Jesus. “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him” (John 12:26 NASB).
Blessings to you always,
Paul Balius
Amen 🙏♥️