“The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve,
and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
(Mark 10:45)
I’m trying to learn how to be a true servant and to view everyday moments as opportunities to serve.
When one of my girls is crying in the middle of the night, I have the opportunity to serve my wife by letting her sleep and taking care of my daughter. – I could sleep or I could serve.
When my neighbor’s grass is 3 feet high and he’s been too busy to cut it. When my yard is done – I could shower or I could serve.
When the pastor in Uganda can’t afford to buy food for his family – I could feel sorry or I could serve.
When the homeless guy is huddled over his sign by the intersection – I could stare or I could serve.
So if I am confronted with opportunities every single day, why am I not a better servant? The problem is my heart. The problem is that I love myself more than I love others.
The truth is that most of us are really good servants when it’s easy and convenient. But when it gets messy or difficult, we run. In Mark chapter 10, Jesus explained to His disciples that He came to serve. But He didn’t just say it. He demonstrated it. Just a few verses later, a blind man named Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus. The people rebuked him, but he cried louder, begging Jesus to have mercy on him. And then the incredible happened. Jesus stopped. He stopped for the outcast. He stopped for the broken. And He healed him. That’s what I mean by being a true servant.
I want the compassion that flowed from the heart of Jesus
to flow from me as well.
If God humbled himself and became a servant, how much more should we? True servanthood involves sacrifice. Jesus gave his life, what will you give?
– Jared
