It is pleasing to My Spirit, a heart that serves. It is not as your God to be served, but to serve. For those who wield power on the earth, this is their goal, that all would serve, and they would rule. It is not so in the Kingdom of God, for in love there is no slave to another, no pressing down of the weaker, but lifting. Greatest in the Kingdom are those who lift. Not by mandate, nor under selfish rule, but by the very heart of the God they serve, by the Spirit of He who served them first. Seek always to bring elevation, to uplift all whom you serve and also to those who serve you. Give no thought to selfish desire, or preservation of your own gain, for in service do you gain, and in lifting you are lifted. This is the sacrifice of those who follow after Me, and soon their glory for the days unending. Bless others as you have been blessed, and on your shoulders you lift also your reward.
Mark 9:33-35 (ESV) – And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”
Matthew 20:26-29 (ESV) – It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Bottom Line: It is an unseen battle. Within each of us there is a desire to be served. We like good service at the restaurant; we like good help at the office. We read leadership books, and many dream of the day when we can “be the boss”. Really, there is nothing wrong with any of that, as long as we remember how we are to lead – as servants to all around us. It sounds contradictory, but it is not. It is what Jesus did and it is what we are called to do. He walked among us as the greatest leader of all time, still influencing countless billions in a short three-year ministry of pure service to those around Him. It is a great oxymoron of our faith: We become great when we serve others, and we become less when we demand others to serve us. Keep this in mind as you interact with others today…especially with those who serve you.
Today’s Prayer: Lord Father – Help me to emulate your Son, to serve as I lead, and lead as I serve. Forgive me for using my position and authority for selfish motives, or for the false importance it sometimes brings when others serve me. Help me to be the Godly leader, worker and servant that you call me to be. Help me to lift today as I lead as you led. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
