The character of Jesus is marked by humility.
That character was marked by an activity of serving. Serving His Father and serving others. Indeed He served others for the sake of His Father and how He served others reflected His desire to be pleasing to His Father.
It was a remarkable quality for the one who made man to be a servant of man, even being known as the son of man. The scene of him taking the form of a servant to wash the feet of those who were supposed to be following Him was a shocking one. Peter’s response to this act from Jesus revealed something that maybe other disciples were thinking but didn’t voice. It got even more challenging when Jesus then expected that from His disciples.
Followers of Jesus marked by humility that leads them to serve. For people who struggle with pride and a haughty attitude to others, this is a massive blow to their whole construct of what it is to exist. Likewise for those who continually have a low opinion of themselves, to truly grasp this call is a distinct move beyond the low mentality to what God considers as an essential part of what it is to exist.
Serving the Lord, with full focus on Him, nudges you to see that saying you love Him and not serve those in need is a contradiction. The one that called you out of darkness has not called you to hold your nose to those still in the darkness. He calls you out to serve others and help them out as well.
That’s a noble calling, that’s a call to holiness even as Jesus exhibited it to the point of the cross.
To ensure we don’t think we can comfortable in 21st Century life looking at things from hundreds of years ago – there is a reminder of how He will engage with those in the end. How He will separate folks in goats and sheep. How He will celebrate those who fed, clothed, visited, welcomed – served the least of his brothers. He will celebrate them because as they were serving them they were serving Him.
It’s a challenge today for us to make a practice of serving. Experience the heart of God to a lost, dark and dying world not by condemning it, but by serving it. Serving with a heart of compassion. Serving it even when it’s not acknowledged by anyone around.
This aspect of serving remains a challenging aspect for me. However much I believe I practice it, there’s always a reminder of how Jesus served that challenges me to rely on Him all the more to serve. It’s not about looking win brownie points and showing off about how many people were served and how well the serving was done. It’s genuinely about being responsive to the heart of God to reach people by whatever means to show them the love of the Saviour who took that form of a servant so others could be liberated. This is very challenging in a world of so many attitudes and reactions. Very challenging thinking of my various ‘excuses’ for not serving. Very challenging when considering again what Jesus did and does in serving today.
Very challenging but eternally rewarding, emotionally uplifting and tremendously satisfying in a manner deeper than a lot of things I have experienced.
I recommend serving as a holy habit for you.
(Photo: Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 