We Serve Him
Jesus came and served. Yes, He went about teaching and healing the sick. But He also washed the feet of disciples. John 13:14, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” He came to serve. He came to put the work of the ministry and the well-being of others first. 1 John 2:6 tells us, “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” Are you walking like Jesus?
Let’s read Philippians 2:3-7, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.”
We are called to be like Jesus. Let the mind of Jesus be the mind we keep. Jesus wasn’t selfish. He came to serve others. He came to serve the commission and the purpose of the kingdom of God. I love this passage in these scriptures, (Jesus) made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant. That word bondservant means that He was devoted to others, regardless of His own interests. Jesus gave up self, in order to advance the cause of God. This is the mind we are called to keep.
Sadly, it seems many Christians want what God has to offer but don’t want to give Him what they have to offer. Look at John 12:25-26, “He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.” This scripture is referring to those who choose their own personal wants and desires above the greater plan of God. Those who choose to live like the rest of the world, those who don’t serve the Lord, will not see the promise of eternal life. Is it all about you and yours? If so, it’s time to take the higher path.
Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” Then just a few verses later we see, Romans 12:11, “not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.” It is a sacrifice on our flesh to go to work all week, then come serve on the cleaning team. It’s a sacrifice sometimes on the mind to bring our tithes when it seems like we’re not even making ends meet. It’s a sacrifice on our flesh sometimes to miss the BBQ, delay the family outing, and get up early to be in church, but this is our reasonable service. Jesus gave up His life, we can give up a little of our recreation time.
Galatians 6:4 tells us each one ought to examine his own work. If you never tell others about Jesus, invite them to church, or share your testimony, is the mind of Christ in you? If you’re not tithing and sowing offerings into your local church and the people of God, is the mind of Christ in you? If you’re only in church a few times a year or once a month because you have other (better) plans, is the mind of Christ in you? If you have no interest in serving others and your local church through the ministry of helps, is the mind of Christ in you? If you go to church, but then live without prayer, without reading your Bible the rest of the week, is the mind of Christ in you? What mind are you keeping? Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.
Be Blessed,
Pastor Renée
