You may read the above title and think that this article is about bodily exercise, but actually these words are a few of the many startling statements made by Jesus throughout His earthly ministry.

• Jesus told a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” (John 5:8, “pick up”, NASB; cf. 5:5-6;)
• Jesus commanded a man with a withered (shriveled, NIV) hand to “Stretch out your hand.” (Matthew 12:13; cf. 12:10).
• To the ten lepers who sought to be healed, He said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests” (Luke 17:14). This command was given before they received cleansing. It must have seemed an impossible thing to gain audience with any priest in their current state, yet the Bible says, “And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.” (17:14).
• In Luke chapter five Jesus encounters a group of professional fisherman (Peter, Andrew, James, and John) who had fished all night, but in spite of their wisdom and experience, had caught nothing (5:5). Jesus said to them, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch” (5:4). The result was an astonishing catch of fish (5:6-9). 
• A man who had been blind from birth gave testimony that “A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received sight.”
• To Lazarus, who had been dead four days, He commanded, “with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth!’ And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth.” (John 11:43-44)

In each of these cases, the individual was unable do what Jesus asked of them, or else had already tried and failed in the attempt. Nevertheless Jesus challenged them to act on His command. They each discovered that with Jesus’ help, they were able to accomplish the very thing they “knew” they could not do. One who was paralyzed got up and picked up his bed. Those who were cast out were now going back into society. Those who had failed all night now began the day with the greatest catch of their lives. The one who was blind could now see. Even one who could not conquer death now crossed the great divide into life (cf. Luke 16:26). By themselves these things were impossible! Jesus made the difference. It was His power that made it possible (Matthew 19:26; Mark 9:23).

Some feel like Jesus gives impossible commands today. And perhaps they are impossible under our own power, wisdom, and might. However, the Christian must always remember that it is the power of Christ that makes the difference.  Therefore let us “Get Up” and serve (Mark 1:31),  “Take Up” our cross (Luke 9:23), “Go” into all the world (Mark 16:15-16), “Stretch Out” our hands to those in need (Acts 3:7), and “Walk” worthy of our calling (Ephesians 4:1-3). For it is not by our power alone that we accomplish these things. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). 
 -  Josh Allen (Pikeville, KY)

In this “self serve,” “me first” world Satan has made it easy to forget about Christian responsibility. However, Jesus reveals that being a Christian is about being a servant.

Jesus’ life was one of service. Paul taught that Jesus “made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7). He came to serve humanity in its time of need, and in doing so He left an example for His people. To live the Christian life is to about conforming oneself to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29).

To serve like Jesus one must be concerned with the needs of others. Jesus himself said, "whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward" (Matt 10:42). He was not instructing His disciples to do the least they could, He was showing the importance of meeting people’s needs no matter how small.

Service is one way Christians express the love of God toward others. “You are the light of the world…let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt 5:14-16). "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35). When Christians serve, others see Christ in their good works.

God has blessed His people with talents and abilities (Matt 25:14-46), yet often these abilities are used only to better one’s station in life. God’s plan however, is that they be used as means to serve others, for His glory. The question that should be on the lips of every Christian is, “How can I help?”

When this question is asked, it is often the case that many people will not know how to answer it. To discover ways to help:

• Listen and observe. What is needed is often easily seen, but remember to pay attention to the little things. When little things add up they can create quite a load. Helping in “little ways” can add up, as well.

• Rely on your own experiences. We have all had different experiences and remember what helped and didn’t help during those times. Maybe God allowed you to go through something so you could help others.

• Pray and ask God for His guidance. God always knows what to do!

- Josh Allen (Pikeville, KY)