Servant who serves with God’s strength
(Acts 4:27 NIV) Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.
(Mat 12:18 NIV) “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
The Servant of the Lord – Christ Jesus – is one that serves with the Lord’s power and anointing. He did not perform His tasks on earth with His own strength.
Likewise, the apostle Paul declared himself to be a servant of God, who became one through the working of His power.
(Eph 3:7 NIV) I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.
The secret of serving God is to do it with His strength. We cannot hope to accomplish much if we rely on our own abilities. Relying on God’s strength means that we seek direction and pray that God will help us in every task we take.
Servant who is not afraid of humble tasks
(Phil 2:5-8 NIV) Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: {6} Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, {7} but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. {8} And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death– even death on a cross!
Very few great men would be willing to do humble tasks. We sometimes read of top executives who leave a company after they have been given less important responsibilities. How different Jesus is! He was even willing to wash His disciples’ feet.
Jesus taught us to do the same. To not shun away from trivial tasks. Because if we are faithful in small things, He will put us in charge of big things.
(Luke 19:17 NIV) “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’
Are there tasks you have shunned away from because you think they are too small for you?
Servant who is great
(Acts 3:13 NIV) The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go.
The world cannot comprehend a servant who is great. When we think of a servant, we think of a household maid doing mundane tasks. But the values of God’s kingdom is the direct opposite. True greatness comes from servanthood.
(Mat 20:26-28 NIV) Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, {27} and whoever wants to be first must be your slave– {28} just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
If you are a leader, do you lord over your subordinates or do you serve them?
Servant who knows no limit
The Lord Jesus was a Servant who knew no limits. He served His Father even to the point of death.
(Phil 2:5-8 NIV) Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: {6} Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, {7} but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. {8} And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death– even death on a cross!
(Mat 20:26-28 NIV) Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, {27} and whoever wants to be first must be your slave– {28} just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Likewise Mary, who declared herself to be God’s servant, was willing to serve God in whatever capacity she had been called.
(Luke 1:34-38 NIV) “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” {35} The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God… {38} “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
How willing are we to serve God in whatever He calls us to do?
Servant who is doing His Master’s tasks
Jesus came to earth as a Servant to do His Father’s will.
(Mat 20:28 NIV) just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
(John 4:34 NIV) “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
(John 6:38 NIV) For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.
If we want to adopt the servant attitude of Jesus, we have to constantly do our Father’s will.
(Mat 24:45-46 NIV) “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? {46} It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.
Servant with “what-can-I-do-for-you” attitude
Jesus was a Servant with a what-can-I-do-for-you attitude. When the time came for someone to wash the feet so that they can start their meals, Jesus volunteered.
(John 13:5 NIV) After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
Jesus encouraged His disciples to bring forward whatever they would like Him to do for them.
(John 16:24 NIV) Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
A servant searches out the needs of those he served. He is a proactive volunteer always looking for how he can bless others.
We need the servant attitude
The early church leaders liked to call themselves by one word – servant. They frequently introduced themselves as servants in their epistles to the churches.
(Titus 1:1 NIV) Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness–
(James 1:1 NIV) James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.
(2 Pet 1:1 NIV) Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:
(Jude 1:1 NIV) Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ:
(Rev 1:1 NIV) The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John.
The servant attitude is one of the most important to have. Are we behaving like a servant?