“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).
SERVANT’S HEART
I frequently accompany Don when he travels to various cities to teach Bible studies. When we are on a teaching tour, a small army serves us. Because they love Jesus, their servant attitudes allow these precious ones to do whatever is necessary to make a class successful. The wife of a busy executive told me that he was the one who cleaned the bathroom we used while staying in their home. I was amazed that he would do that to serve us.
If it is hard to accept that an important business executive would clean a bathroom for us, then how much more difficult is it, by faith, to accept that the Son of God washed feet, served tables, healed the sick, and finally gave His life for us? He made the ultimate sacrifice—death on a cross—that we might be saved from our sins!
In light of this, how could we ever think we could please God except by emulating the servant attitude of His Son? Jesus spoke severely to the Pharisees because of their haughty spirits. Either a servant attitude or a haughty spirit will show itself when we are treated with disrespect or disdain by others. When our servant attitude is tested, we are sometimes dismayed at how quickly we revert to our old arrogant reactions.
Do not forget the ultimate goal of every child of God is to hear, “Well done, good and faithful SERVANT” (Matt. 25:21). If it truly is our desire to hear these words from our master, we must be faithful today. Servanthood does not just happen. It is the result of faithful daily service.
What are the excuses we use to deprive ourselves of the joy and fulfillment of serving Christ by serving others?
Pick up your towel; there are dirty feet all around you!