Servants
Everyone is someone’s servant. Ye are slaves to whom ye obey. Most people would rather serve themselves. As Americans, we’re thought rugged individualism… that we have to look out for “number one.” However, be careful whom you serve…. As one preacher said, the god of self is heavily defended territory.
In Mark 9 Jesus said, if anyone wants to be first, he must be servant of all. Men of this world aspire to be the “goat”. The greatest of all time. James and John’s mother said to Jesus, reserve the special place on your right and left hand for my sons. However, Jesus said, the greatest leader is the greatest servant.
The world values the praise of others… they live for “hearty approbation and lavish praise.” They seek tributes and accolades and trophies from other people. The world says, you’re a winner… you’re the greatest, the one who deserves praise, honor and glory.
Sometimes Jesus was surprised by the Gentiles who were not schooled in Israel’s Old Testament law. A Roman centurion came to Jesus and said, my servant is near death and needs to be healed. Jesus said, I’ll go with you to heal him. The centurion said, I’m a man in authority like you. I give a command and whatever I say gets done. Just say the words, and my servant will be healed. Jesus marveled at this Gentile’s believing faith.
In Luke 9 Jesus said, the son of man must suffer many things and then be killed and raised up the third day. He said, if any man wants to be my disciple must deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me. What good is if a man gains his life but loses his soul? As Missionary Jim Elliot said, He is no fool who loses that which he cannot keep to keep that which he cannot lose.
In John 13, Jesus said, If you call me Lord, and if I have washed your feet then wash one another’s. feet. He that is chief among you must be servant of all.
In Luke 4 the devil led Jesus to a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. The devil said, If you bow down and worship me I’ll give you all of this, for it has been delivered unto me. Then Jesus answered, it is written, “thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”
The question is, do you worship the things of the world, or do you worship the Lord God…. Do you really love God above all? You worship that which you love… either the things of this world, the god of self and selfishness, the god of comfort, or the god of other people’s approval.
We may have accomplished many things that the world considers success. Churches ask three things: to attend regularly, to give generously and to serve diligently. The real question is, “who is it that they are asking you to serve?” Are they calling you to serve their denomination or their deacon board or their head pastor? It’s a subtle thing… the devil will appear as an angel of light. If you want to control others, then devise a works-based system of advancement and continuous improvement. Today, works has replaced grace, even in the church.
The question is, “in a works-based system, when is enough enough?” How good do my works need to be? How much do I need to give? How many do I need to serve in order to gain entrance into heaven? In a works based system, enough is never good enough…. For all have sinned and missed the mark.
Despite our falling short of the world’s standards of success, does mercy triumph over judgement? Jesus said to the men who had gathered to stone the woman caught in adultruy, “he who is without sin may cast the first stone.” One by one each man was convicted in his own heart. One by one each of her accusers slinked away. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
Jesus came not to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved. The purpose of the church is to create an environment where the Holy Spirit is welcome to come help himself to our lives. For it is not the wrath of God but the loving kindness and tender mercy…. It is the love of God that calls a man to repentance.
The question is, “whom do you serve?” We serve those whom we love the most…. This is why the first and great commandment says, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, mind, and strength…. Then the second commandment is like unto it: thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Why? Because Jesus said, in that ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
The world conditions us to ask, What’s in it for me?” You have to look out for number one. However according to Ecclesiastes, vanity of vanities, all is vanity. If done for our own vain glory, it shall be done in vain… it shall come to nought… it profiteth me nothing… it will become dust in the wind.
After Peter had denied Christ, he went back to his fishing business. Jesus appeared to the disciples on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. He was grilling fish by the sea side.
In John 21, Jesus asked Peter twice, Peter do you love me with the agape love of God? Peter answered both times, I love you like a brother. The third time… Jesus asked do you love me like a brother? Peter said, Lord you know all things, you know I love you the only way I know how. you know that I love you like a brother…. Jesus said, feed my sheep.
Our Lord trusted no man. He was not bitter or discouraged about the actions of men who opposed them. As he prayed on the cross for the soldiers who had driven the nails through his hands, he also prayed for us before we were saved, father forgive them, for they know not what they do.
As followers of Christ, let this mind be in you which was also in Christ…. He took upon himself the form of a servant and was faithful unto death, even the death of the cross. For he who was without sin, became the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.
Jesus loved us so much that he for the joy that was set before him, (the joy of your salvation and mine) endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down upon the right hand of the throne of God..
Jesus didn’t love them because of who they were, but because of who God had called them to be… he saw them through the reflection of the word…. For we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the lord are changed from glory (of the flesh) to glory (of the spirit) even by the spirt of the Lord.
Greater love than this hath no man than to give his life so we may receive eternal life. Love so amazing so Devine demands my soul, my life, my all..
That we may live to the praise of the glory of His grace,
Your brother in Christ,
Michael
