“… through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors;” (2 Corinthians 6:8)
Kelli B. Trujillo writes: “I’m not your servant!” I half-grunted, half-spoke to one of my kids as I got on my hands and knees to pick up pasta he’d decided to deposit on the floor. Then a thought struck me: I sure hope Jesus didn’t hear me say that! Unfortunately, this attitude towards servanthood extends beyond cleaning the floor. Most of the time, serving others just rubs me the wrong way. If it’s some extra-meaningful project where you can practically hear the soundtrack of inspirational, feel-good music … and experience a rush about how great you are … it’s not difficult. But what about the service Jesus talked about … that involves getting no credit … and waging a battle against your selfish impulses?
Harry E. Fosdick said, “No stream or gas drives anything until it’s confined. No Niagara is turned into light and power until it’s tunneled. No life ever grows great until it’s focused, dedicated, disciplined.” Serving “Jesus-style” means saying, “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). Paul was jailed, whipped, stoned, shipwrecked, and robbed, yet he said: “We serve God whether people honor … despise … slander … or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others” (2 Corinthians 6:8-10). The Bible says Jesus “for the joy set before him he endured the cross … and sat down at the right hand .. of God” (Hebrews 12:2). And that same Spirit enables you to serve others by drawing on His strength.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, make and keep my heart to serve to be that of Yours. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Stay encouraged!
Pastor Mike
