Wednesday, July 30, 2025
When Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer clothing, he reclined again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are speaking rightly, since that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you. “Truly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. Matthew 13:12-17
A Lifestyle of Servanthood
Jesus gave us the perfect example of serving others with his whole life. During his last meal with his disciples, Jesus modeled servanthood for them and called them to do as he has done for them. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you. Jesus calls us to live a life of servanthood – a life where we live and move and have our being in him. When we live and move and have our being in him, and when we live and love like Jesus, our whole life, everything we say and do, is lived in him.
For in him we live and move and have our being… Acts 17:28
In him we live and move and have our being. Everything we are is because of him – down to the air we breathe. We exist because of him, by him, and for him. In a surrendered life nothing we have is our own. Our breath, our body, our possessions, and our time is all for him. The words we say and the things we do should glorify him and point others to him. Just as we have talked about worship being a lifestyle, servanthood is a lifestyle as well. As Jesus followers it should be second nature to us to step up and serve when needed and as opportunities arrive. If we are available, and able, and can in any way, we should. When we across come opportunities, we should be ready and willing.
Many times it is a small sacrifice with a bountiful reward. Others will be blessed by our obedience to serve, and our hearts will be blessed by obedience, filled by the pouring out of ourselves for others. We should also be surrendered to serve when it comes as a great sacrifice to us. We should not reserve our serving for small opportunities with little inconvenience. Those are just as important, but it is good for us to be inconvenienced for the glory of God and the ministry of servanthood. Where is the surrender in only serving when it is good for you, when you don’t get messy, or when you don’t have to sacrifice something of yourself, your time, or your resources. When there is a sacrifice involved we sometimes see the real commitment level of servanthood.
Are you willing to be inconvenienced?
Are you willing to sacrifice?
Are you willing to give up your time, energy, and resources to live a surrendered and obedient life serving others?
If you have ever surrendered in servanthood and a life in relationship with Jesus, learning to live and love like him, you know there are inconceivable blessings that follow. We are blessed by obedience. We will be blessed by helping others. We have a heavenly reward waiting for us. Living a life of surrender and servanthood does not mean an empty life of giving away ourselves to others. It is a life of abundance as the love of God fills us more and more as we pour ourselves out in service and love for his glory.
