A servant, a friend, a son

SCRIPTURE:

So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’” Luke 17:10

Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 10:43-45

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:12-15

For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother. Matthew 12:50

OBSERVATION:

Our Lord Jesus is our Master. By calling Him Lord, we acknowledge that we are His servants. One of the key lessons the Lord taught His disciples was to have the attitude of a lowly servant. In washing His disciples’ feet, the Lord showed them there was no dishonor in serving others, even in the lowliest of tasks.

Also, in serving the Lord, in whatever capacity, we are not to become proud and think that we have done a lot for God, and expect special blessing or favor or commendation for our efforts. Instead, we should have the attitude of thankfulness that we are worthy to serve at all, and that it is our duty to do the very best we can for God.

And the wonderful thing is that the Lord does not mean for us to just remain as servants but to be lifted up to be his personal friends and even family members. Yet, even as friends and family, our service does not stop. Rather, it is precisely in that relationship that we serve all the more, doing what the Lord commands, and doing the will of our Father in Heaven. The more we serve and obey Him, the closer we become to Him, and the more God reveals to us concerning His business. We then grow to understand better how God works, what is important to Him, and how we can please Him. As Christ taught His disciples, so the Holy Spirit teaches us today, and it is this impartation of knowledge that builds our friendship and family relationship with God.

APPLICATION:

Praise God that He did not just call us to be His servants, but to be His personal friends and family. The entire Bible is the story about God’s plan to draw a people to Himself who would not only serve Him but be His personal friends and family forever. We are so fortunate to be called into this plan, and we need to be forever grateful.

Remember that even in that close, intimate relationship and fellowship with God as personal friends and family, we do not lose our attitude of servanthood. We are saved to serve, and that is our purpose, and to those who truly love God, it is a joy to serve Him.

Where and how should we serve Him? We need to be careful here not to fall into pressures from well-meaning leaders who may direct us to areas of service that they think is suitable for us. Each one of us has a particular calling from God into areas that He knows is best. When an opportunity for service comes, we should pray to God, and if we feel at peace, then to give it a try. There are times to say “yes”, and times to say “no”, and there is a balance between service to our own family at home and service in the church or other ministries. Also, in all our service, we should not think of ourselves purely as just servants, but also as family of God, knowing that all that we do is for the good of the family. The pure hired servant only thinks of wages, but the servant adopted into the family loves the family and wants the very best for the family regardless of wages.

PRAYER

We praise You and thank You, Abba Father God, precious Lord Jesus, that You called us to be part of Your family. And You did not just mean us to be only servants, but to be Your personal friends and sons and daughters. Continue O Lord, to help us know the joy of serving You. Lead us, Lord, to be able to serve You in the ways You know is best for us. Guide our paths, and give us wisdom in the choices that we make. May we always honor You in what we do, and have the humility and attitude of a servant just as You did when You came to earth, Lord Jesus! We bless You and thank You and love You, Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.