Serve Others

Serve Others “Just as the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28 Jesus fully lived up to the scripture above. Jesus humbly ministered to the needs of those He taught, readily expending himself in their behalf. He crisscrossed the Promised Land on foot, walking hundreds of miles on preaching tours in an effort to reach as many people as possible. Unlike the proud Pharisees and scribes, He remained humble and approachable. All manner of people—dignitaries, soldiers, lawyers, women, children, the poor, the sick, even society’s outcasts—approached him eagerly, unafraid. Though perfect, Jesus was human, subject to fatigue and hunger. Even when He was tired or was in need of rest or a quiet time to pray, however, He put the needs of others ahead of His own. Jesus was equally willing to serve His own disciples. He did so by teaching them kindly and patiently. When they were slow to grasp some vital lessons, He did not give up, lose His temper, or berate them. He continued to find new ways to get His point across. For example, just think of how often the disciples bickered over who was the greatest among them. Again and again, right up to the night before His execution, Jesus found new ways to teach them to deal humbly with one another. Notice that Jesus did not merely tell the disciples what the example was; He taught them by example. He did not speak down to them from a lofty height, as if considering himself above carrying out the things He was telling them to do. That was the way of the Pharisees. “They say but do not perform,” Jesus said of them. Are you willing to serve others, are you willing to sacrifice your time to help someone in need. Your rest and leisure should be within balance and should not cause us to neglect the whole reason for our existence. We are here to serve, not to be served. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven October 4