Good morning gentle one!

One of the ways we demonstrate our new life in Christ Jesus is by BECOMING A SERVANT, which means we’ve committed ourselves to living for God instead of ourselves.  In other words, we become God-focused instead of self-focused.  

As SERVANTS, we’re willing to be inconvenienced for the sake of advancing the kingdom of God.  Jesus lives a life of SERVANTHOOD.  His SERVANT’S heart was demonstrated in everything He did and everywhere He went. 

Everyone He came in contact with was affected by His determination to SERVE God and bless other people.  Before He was crucified, He showed His love for His disciples by washing their feet.  John 13:3-5, 12-14 describes the scene:

• Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God.  So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin.  Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him…After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing?  You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am.  And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet.

It’s evident that Jesus had no problem taking on a SERVANT’S role.  When we become Christians, we have a responsibility to adopt a lifestyle that demonstrates the character of Jesus Christ. 

The foundation of Christianity is love because God is love.  When we learn to become SERVANTS, we build our character and cultivate the love of God in our hearts.  God has always shown His love to us through SERVING us.  His ultimate act of SERVANTHOOD was sending Jesus to die for our sins (see John 3:16).  This great act of SERVING mankind is why we, in turn, should SERVE Him and other people.  

Here are some characteristics of SERVANTHOOD:

1. SERVANTS make themselves available to God to serve.
2. SERVANTS do what is needed, even when it’s inconvenient.
3. SERVANTS see interruptions as opportunities to practice SERVING other people.
4. SERVANTS pay attention to the needs of other people.
5. No task is beneath a SERVANT.

God won’t force you to serve Him; the choice is yours.  But you have to present yourself instead of waiting for someone to ask you to SERVE, or for a miraculous sign to show up.  God is always concerned about the condition of your heart.  If you heart isn’t willing to SERVE Him, ask Him to help you in this area.  In addition to this, ask yourself, “Am I living to please God or myself?  Am I concerned about what people think about me or what God thinks about me?”  In doing so, you may discover other areas in which your SERVANTHOOD can improve.  For example, God may be leading you to demonstrate THE HEART OF A SERVANT with your family and friends, in your work place, in an outreach ministry, or more frequently at your church.  Obey whatever He’s directing you to do.  He’ll never forget what you have done to SERVE Him and other people.  By making a quality decision to walk in His love, and place His agenda before your own, you’ll be a genuine demonstration of the character of Jesus, and reap rewards here on earth and in heaven.

Striving to have the heart of a servant,

Lisa Gordon

Assistant Pastor

Jesus City Church