Servant Heart

I know in my heart I want to serve the Lord - but what does that look like?  Definition of servant - One who expresses submission, recognizance (an obligation binding a person to do a particular act), or debt to another.  The most beautiful picture of a servant is seen in the book of John. "When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.". John 13:12-17

Jesus, our Lord was willing to serve.  As messengers of the gospel, we must do the same.  We are called to serve the Lord.  Some of us might serve Him in an unseen, quiet manner while others serve Him in the public eye.  The most important thing is that we have a willing heart and submit it to the glory of the Lord.  When Christ walked this earth, His complete objective was to please the Father.  It is simple but in order to be faithful servants, we too must strive always to please Him.  When serving, we are called to be ready to wash one another's feet - this takes on many different looks, so don't freak if you don't like feet.  Sometimes it might mean giving in and denying yourself in order to do something special for someone else.  Your opportunity to serve might come when you are given an honor or position of authority, and God's word tells you to remember the example Christ set.  "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!" Philippians 2:5-9. Serving means being submissive to the calling Christ has put on our heart - which is to love others, help others, teach others, feed others, clothe others, support others, offer encouragement to others, and the list goes on.  When you study God's word and the life of Jesus, follow Him.  His footsteps walked in a path of the perfect example of Servanthood.  "Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 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.” Matthew 20:26-28

Serving others is an important matter to the Lord. In the book of Matthew 25:34-40 He said, "'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to me.'"  The unrighteous were told to depart because they had neglected to be of service to others Matthew 25:41-46.

"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work." 1 Corinthians 12:4-6  Make every effort to change your schedule and change your life - Serve Him.