“Level up” is a term I learned playing video games as a child. I vividly remember one game on the Atari 2600 that I could never advance and level up the gameplay. The character did nothing but wander around until it finally fell into a pit. Often, you couldn’t get out of the pit! The game was “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” based on the Steven Spielberg smash hit film in the summer of 1982. Capitalizing on the immediate popularity, game creators rushed design and production to cash in on the Christmas market. The result? After Christmas, three million people returned the game for a refund. Players didn’t like being unable to “level up.”
Just as life is so much more rewarding when you know you can level up, the same is true of your spiritual life. All of us have had seasons when we get bored or lazy and stopped growing in faith. At some point after you’ve decided to follow Jesus, He wants to help take your faith to another level of growth and spiritual maturity.
When I felt stuck in a pit spiritually, it helped me to understand that I should quit viewing life from a selfish perspective. James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” Simply put: Less Me. Level Up Spiritually. Level Up Selflessly. When there’s more God, and less you, your faith will level up selflessly.
We live in a self-gratifying, self-promoting culture that doesn’t stress humility. Selfpromotion is pervasive throughout our culture, as evidenced by a recent nationwide study showing 55% of teenagers— when asked what they wanted to be—aspired to be celebrities. Another large percentage of teens answered, “I want to be the GOAT!” What does the G-O-AT mean? The Greatest of All Time! The problem is that Jesus’s teaching is diametrically opposed to a self-promoting culture.
In Matthew 16:24 Jesus told His disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow Me.” Basically, give up your own selfish nature and then—be like Jesus. Then Mark 10:43 says, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.”
As Christians, we are not called to live selfcentered lives, but instead, to be selfless, taking on the very nature of a servant—just as Jesus Himself did. Serving is not just something that we do. It’s an action that reflects who we are.
How can you start? Maybe by taking a lunch to an elderly neighbor, or offering to drive a friend for a doctor’s appointment— always remembering, you are a servant of the Most High God, and when you serve others, you are serving Jesus Christ.
So, how will you reap a reward from your selfless service to God and His people? In Matthew 25, Jesus speaks of what He will do at the end of this age: He will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. If anyone seriously wanted to make their life’s mission to selfishly be the GOAT, it won’t end well. “But, to the sheep, Jesus says, “Come you who are blessed by my Father and take your inheritance…for I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”- Matthew 25:34-36 We at LECC invite you to serve Him with us at 415987 Highway 9, Eufaula, with small group Bible study at 10 a.m., worship at 11 a.m., and Wednesday night activities at 6:30 p.m. You’ll find life much more rewarding if you allow the Holy Spirit to change your heart to be more like Christ—joyfully leveled up!
God Bless You!
Jeremy Little, Minister
