The Pattern of Servanthood

[via By Dr Charles Stanley]



25) But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26 )But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27) and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28) For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matt. 20:25-28 (NLT)


In the world’s thinking, great men are the ones with authority, prominence, and power. Though Jesus Christ had all that, He gave it up to become a servant (Isa. 42:1).

Jesus gave Himself completely to fulfill the Father’s plan of redemption, even though the beneficiaries—namely, each of us—were undeserving. God is holy and righteous, and He cannot be in the presence of sin. Therefore, He must separate Himself from those who are stained by wrongdoing. That includes all of humanity (Rom. 3:23).

Everybody is born captive to the desires of the flesh (Rom. 6:16-18). When someone claims to be living on his “own terms,” he is actually serving whatever his human nature craves. The penalty for that false sense of liberty is death (Rom. 6:23).

Jesus’ ultimate act of service was to give His life as a ransom for many (Matt. 20:28). The word describes the price paid to set a slave free—Christ voluntarily purchased our liberation. There was only one way our holy God could remove our guilt yet remain true to His own law: Someone sinless had to pay our sin debt for us.

Jesus’ sacrifice spared us the penalty we deserve. Instead, we receive the gift of grace and have been declared no longer guilty. Moreover, we are elevated from slaves to sons and daughters of the Almighty!

Jesus served the Father’s purpose faithfully. He gave up His righteousness to carry the weight of all our wickedness—and endured a crushing separation from His Father. To meet our needs, the Savior held nothing  of Himself back, and thereby set a powerful example of servanthood for us follow.

The faith of God is in the word of God, but the power of God is in the love of God. Has your faith been activated by your love for God and the love of God working (serving) through you? Are you commited to the process (willing to sacrifice self) of becoming the person of faith and power He's called you to be?
 
Be Blessed!

Dawn