Daily devotion – serving like Jesus
John 13: 1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
Ministry, serving in Church, is something the Lord desired we would all be part of as the body of Christ His Church. Each person, every believer, serving in some capacity as they are able and gifted by God to bring blessing to the Church body as a whole.
But in many Churches, it is often the same few doing all the serving.
Churches have tried rules, tried rewards, to attempt to have more of their congregation carry the load and serve instead of just the same few. But this is a poor attempt and always a failing pathway to follow.
For one should desire to serve the Lord out of a heart of thanksgiving, of love both for the Lord and His people. This cannot be forced, it must happen as a result of a people’s love for Christ.
We have many reasons for not serving. Too shy, no ability, too busy, have no time, that’s not me, too difficult, too lowly or simply not interested.
Our Lord and Saviour knows our hearts and therefore He gave us a blessed example and role model that we each can follow as we commit to serving the Lord and the Church.
Jesus was the busiest Man on the planet, He was saving the world from sin. He prayed and ministered all day and all night. He rested only when opportune moments came, which was rare. He loved the people He served; He saw them all as lost sheep without a Shepherd.
He also wanted to please His Father and do all that the Father had sent Him to do. Shying away from nothing – even to being a humble ‘house servant’ washing the disciples feet the night of the Passover feast.
Let us copy His example!