MARK 10:42-45 – And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But 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 slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

THEME OF THE DAY. SERVE, NOT BE SERVED.  I was reading today’s scripture when my resident theologian, my wife, entered the room.  I asked a question, “So, what do you think would happen if we and every other Christian woke up each day and lived out what Jesus said – ‘For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many’”?  She paused, then replied, “We would be living Biblical Christianity.”  Read again what she said.  Now, let’s do something that might be a little uncomfortable.  Ask the question, “Does the sacrificial life of the Lord Jesus, obviously not in His dying for our sins, but in His example of daily living in the service of others define my life?”

One of the subtle dangers we must guard against as Christians is to allow our understanding, even definition, of the Christian life be determined by these two sources; our own understanding (we will never be hard enough on our passivity toward obedience) or our contemporary Christian culture (it will be defined more by morality than spirituality). There is one place, and the only safe place, to define Christianity and that is the Bible.  And there is only one pure model to look upon to see Biblical Christianity in action: the Lord Jesus Christ.  So, based on the scriptural definition of Christianity – the Bible, and the scriptural model of Christianity – the Lord Jesus, we may simplify our walk with Him in obedience to His Word by one word: self-denial. This truth is captured in a short statement by our Lord – Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).

In this verse, Jesus points us to the four-step process of walking with Him or living out the Christian life. First, there is desire – “if anyone would come after me”.  Notice an important truth about desire.  If true, it will always have action. The next step in the Christian life is crucial. Without this one, the next two cannot occur and the true Christian life not lived. This step is “let him deny himself.” The whole of the Christian life lies here; the continual determination and exercise of the will to say “no” to self-interests and self-desires by putting the interests of Christ and others ahead of one’s own.  Basically, it is what is stated by our Lord in today’s scripture – “I came not to be served but serve.”

So, what would a life of serving, not being served look like?  Well, I am not going to tell us, but I am going to share the two places such a life begins, and it is not in our actions.  It is in our attitudes.  To live a life of selfless service to others like Jesus, be convinced we really don’t exist to be served.  I am afraid a lot of Christians are too quick to look how they are being served, in their churches, by their brothers and sisters, and their families.  This is a bad place to go for it will produce a critical spirit for we always fail in our service to one another.  To avoid such disappointment, develop the Biblical heart that realizes we don’t exist to be served, but serve.  The next attitude to develop comes through prayer.  Make praying to be a servant a priority and be specific in asking God to do this.  Ask Him to let us see people as He sees them. Then ask Him to move us into action.  He will. Be sensitive as He does and obey as He does.

Serve, not be served. That is the Biblical definition of Christianity as modeled by Him who is Christianity.  May we embrace both for His glory!

PRAYER: “Father, help me to see I really am not living for myself at any time in the fleeting life of mine.”

QUOTE: “How far and wide would our influence for Jesus be if we truly practiced what He commands?.”

Because of Him,

Pastor Jim