August 20, 2019 SERVING: PROTOCOL IN THE KINGDOM
Mark 10:42-44 “And calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, ‘You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. But it is not so among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be a slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.’”
This is another clear example of the difference in the ways of the world and the ways of the kingdom of God. Someone correctly said that “The way up is down.” It is the nature of man to want to be served; man tends to look at those who are servants as less than, while the ones who are in authority are considered the greatest, or more important. As believers, we have the opportunity to be expressions of the kingdom of God here on earth, to be His ambassadors, representing and demonstrating His kingdom in our particular sphere. At the very core of this issue of being a servant is whether our focus in life is primarily on me, or on how to bless and serve others. Man apart from God is selfish by nature, but before we condemn the lost for being selfish, let us be reminded that as believers, we too can become focused on what’s best for us, or pursue the things that will make us ‘happy.’ The cure, or the antidote for being self-centered is knowing and experiencing the love of God. It is a miracle, but when one knows the love of God first-hand, desiring to bless and serve others becomes the new norm; selfishness is dethroned. The mystery and the miracle is that when we serve because we know the love of God, serving becomes a joy, and it satisfies our inner most being. Unlike the love of the world, in God’s love we no longer have to compete, compare ourselves to others, or make every effort to climb to the top. In His love, we find contentment and peace in the place God has us. Real freedom comes when our focus turns from within to the well-being of others. It’s not what the world would tell us, but as we give our lives away, we will find our life.
Matthew 10:39 “He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.”
Matthew 16:25 “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will find it.”
Galatians 5:13 “You, My brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
Blessings,
Buddy
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