HONORED TO SERVE
Jenna Worsham
Today’s Scripture: “If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.” John 12:26, ESV
Theme: Follow Jesus; serve like He did; pursue honor like He did.
FOLLOW
Jesus served. He washed feet (John 13:5). He responded to beggars calling to Him in the street (Mark 10:49). He touched and healed the “unclean” (Matthew 8:2-3). He stopped to help, and offered to go when it wasn’t convenient (Matthew 8:5-7). He took detours to visit friends going though grief (John 11:33-36). Jesus took time to pray for the little children and acknowledge their mothers who had the faith to bring them to Him (Matthew 19:13-15). He solved a supply problem at a wedding when His mother requested help (John 2:3). He fed thousands in a crowd when they were hungry, more than once (Luke 9:16-17; Mark 8:1-8). Feeding, healing, visiting, acknowledging, blessing, and washing – Jesus wasn’t above any of those tasks. Am I?
SERVE WITH JESUS
Jesus is at work on the street, in school, in line for groceries, and at The Cove Church. He is at work wherever there is a need and the potential to serve. I recently visited a rehab and nursing center. There were many sick, elderly, broken and tired people--and not all of them were patients. You could hear some people moaning; some were doing therapy on weight machines; others were eating or serving in a common area. I have visited places like this before. However, today it occurred to me: while I was on a mission for a specific person, Jesus would not have been in an important hurry. He might have asked the CNA about her day. He might have stopped to engage the man cleaning up after serving breakfast in the kitchen. He would have said hello to the elderly as he passed them in the hall and maybe held their hands or prayed with them for a moment. Jesus stopped to serve in situations I might overlook. Who am I on a mission to serve?
THIS IS HOW TO BE HONORED BY GOD
As Jesus watched honored religious leaders choose the best seats, He redirected them: “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor” (Luke 14:8a, ESV). I wonder where Jesus sat when he arrived in a home with His disciples. Maybe He sat on the floor. Would He sit at the “kids table”? I wonder if He went into the kitchen to see if He could help serve the meal or clean up. Did He go check on the servants?
“But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place” (Luke 14:10a, ESV). Serve like Jesus. If we want to be honored by God, we can’t pursue honor the usual, worldly way. “It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26-28, ESV). Humbly, wherever we are, without rushing, not considering ourselves more important, with old folks, and sticky-fingered children, on the road, when we have somewhere to be, and when we are invited guests – serve like Jesus.
Make It Personal: What situations make it difficult to serve? Who can you serve this week that might not expect you to serve them?
Some ideas: Clear away dishes in a restaurant (or bring your server some food); serve on the parking team at church one week; bring your bus driver a coffee or leave a gift for the person who delivers your amazon packages. Entertain other people’s kids in line at the grocery store (or let them go first); talk with an elderly person for longer than usual; go visit someone who can’t get out much; say “Hi” and give fist bumps in the atrium, even when you aren’t serving on the hospitality team.
Pray: Lord, help me to follow Your example to serve. Help me to pursue serving with the same enthusiasm I have for being the guest of honor. Give me the chance to serve the Church, my siblings and coworkers, those who are supposed to be serving me, the poor, the elderly, and the young. Help me to notice opportunities today, right in front of me, and ones that require me to make a detour. I want to join You in what You are doing - serving. Please help me to serve with the right motivation and willingness. Thank You for Your provision and patience with me. Amen.
Read: John 13:12-17; Matthew 8:1-7; Luke 14:7-11
Weekly Memory Verse: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3, ESV