pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: servant


by Leave a comment

His Kingdom

The first must be last.  To be first you must become a servant.  These words of Jesus run so counter to the view of the world.  In the world, power is seen as the one on top with the most money or the loftiest title or the best looks.  Jesus says that when we welcome those at the bottom of society and get to know them, then we also come to know Him better.  In the world’s view, those beneath are just stepping stones.

For Jesus, welcoming in and getting to know those who are struggling breaks down the barriers that often separate us.  In forming relationships we remove our misconceptions.  In loving other we help them to see their worth and identity as a child of God.  But it is not all one-sided.  In doing these things, our love for God and our love for neighbor grows as well.  We too are changed.

It is in these moments and through these experiences with the discounted, marginalized, and invisible that we ourselves come to catch a glimpse of God’s kingdom.  It is here we begin to see and know what Jesus meant when He said the first must be last.  In this kingdom we place other’s needs ahead of our own.  It is here that we see being a servant to those in need as a blessing to us as well as to them.  In this kingdom we learn that all are servants.

This life-transforming love of God is powerful.  It can forever change lives.  This day, this week, this life – may we be moved to be builders of His kingdom.  May we bring His light and love to all who are lost and in need.  May we be forever changed.

Scripture reference: Mark 9: 33-37


by Leave a comment

The Servant of the Lord

In the midst of her confusion and perplexity, the angel Gabriel assures Mary with these words: “Nothing will be impossible with God.”  He focuses her in on this fact and she finds calm and determination as she sets herself for the task at hand.

For myself, and possibly for you, I want to live my life like I believe these words fully.  But at times I struggle to completely do so.  I can get in the way when I think I have the plan when God really does.  I can doubt when faced with wrenching tragedy when I can’t even begin to fathom how God is at work in the midst of it all.  Yet deep in my heart and soul, I know He has the plan and He is in the midst of the pain.

The possibility of these words keeps drawing me back to God.  We are drawn back because the truth is in these words.  The truth is echoed in Psalm 31:3 – “You are my rock and my fortress; for Your name’s sake You lead and guide me.”  Deep in our hearts we know that God can do anything.

Our challenge is to live out Mary’s words each day of our lives: “Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be according to your word.”

Scripture reference: Luke 1: 31-38


by Leave a comment

The Master’s Sandals

John 13:34 – “A new command I give you: love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

Ephesians 4: 32 – “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

 

I loved the show “Undercover Boss” – anyone else?  It was a great show.  If you’ve never seen it, the basics of the show was that the owner of a company would take an entry level position that usually involved some pretty basic ‘grunt’ work – and it was often dirty and disgusting and physically requiring.  Sometimes the boss could not even do the job and was fired!  But without fail the boss ended up seeing how important and hard-working these ‘lower’ level employees were and how underpaid or disrespected they were.  It was usually a very humbling experience for the company owner.

As Jesus knelt and washed the disciples feet, many of them must have felt very uncomfortable.  It was always the disciples who would wash the rabbi’s feet – never the other way around.  It just wasn’t how you do things.  But Jesus had a point.  The point is for us as well.  Serving others has no limitations or requirements or hierarchy.  None!  Just like the lower level employees in the TV show, all people are important.  All people matter.

True service is much more than helping out a good friend.  It is much more than taking the time on a lazy Saturday afternoon to help out at the thrift store.  A true servant’s heart does anything at anytime for anybody.  When we truly love one another, then we are walking in the Master’s sandals.