My Servant

… and think the same way that Christ Jesus thought:

Christ was truly God.
But he did not try to remain equal with God.
Instead he gave up everything and became a slave,
when he became like one of us.

Christ was humble.
He obeyed God and even died on a cross.      Philippians 2:5-8 (CEV)

Have you ever thought what it would be like to have a servant? Frankly I’m uncomfortable with the idea of having someone waiting on me. Having a housekeeper would be OK because I would pay the person for their work. But a servant works doing whatever jobs are given to them and for as many hours as they are told and given only food and shelter as their master decides.

Jesus, the Creator who has always been, comes to earth in the flesh as a servant. Who is His Master? He says He is here to glorify the Father and do the Father’s will. And so Jesus is obedient to His earthly parents as a child, works in His father’s carpentry shop and provides for His mother and siblings, feeds people, teaches them, heals them and then obeys His Father even when He tells Him that He must suffer and die.

Jesus didn’t just tell me what a servant should be like but He actually lived the life of a servant. He could have commanded all manner of things. He could have ordered the disciples around and told them what a servant should be. But Jesus washed their feet and told them to do the same if they wanted to truly be great in His Kingdom.

And so by Jesus’ example, I live where and how Jesus wants me to live. I work where and with the people Jesus wants me to work. I am to serve others with a humble and joyful heart. A servant doesn’t expect applause or acknowledgment that he/she has done a good job.

How do I feel about Jesus being my servant too? He is still serving me as He teaches and comforts and watches over me. He is always there; never does He doze off or have too many things to pay attention to me. I am overwhelmed by the thought of Jesus serving me. I am inspired to serve Him more. But I can never “out-serve” Him or “out-give” Him. There is no contest. But I can express my love for Him through the love that I give to others. It is in serving that I please God best. And when I do it quietly, even secretly, God is especially pleased.

I pray today that I have ears to hear and an open, humble heart to receive Jesus’ teaching. That I will continue to serve His children wherever He sends me and however He directs me. And may I do it with a joyous, expectant spirit that glorifies the Father just as Jesus did.

Here I Am LORD written by Dan Schutte (1981) sung by Wells Cathedral Choir, Somerset England