Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Jesus got up from supper and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. John 13:4-5
A True Servant
What does it mean to be a true servant? Everyone may have a different definition in their heads about what being a servant means to them. Some will put up boundaries as to what they are willing to be involved in and others are all in for anything that can be done to help people.
I have come to realize there are two very important considerations involved for anyone who wants to serve. First, have you opened your heart completely to what God is telling you to do? Second, are you following Jesus’ example? Because He is the ultimate servant, and He gave us a living example of what it looks like to be a true servant.
Be Open to What God is Asking You to Do
Sometimes we want to serve but we want to do that on our own terms. God wants servants who will listen to Him and do what He leads them to do. How committed are you? I know a woman who has a heart full of servant love. God told her to open her home to a young woman with addiction problems and a diagnosis of cancer. He told her husband the same thing, and both of them were willing to do whatever He called them to do. They were surrendered to Him and His leading in their servanthood. How open are you? Are you willing to obey whatever He says to do? Or are you telling God how you would like servanthood to fit into your life? It is hard to be surrendered completely but that is what He calls a true servant to do. That does not mean that you are supposed to open your home to someone who had a drug addiction and cancer. It means that you should be willing to do whatever God leads you to do. We are all in different seasons of life and we have to consider our families in our decisions of course.
Follow Jesus’ Examples
Laced throughout the stories of the miracles He performed we see Jesus as a true servant. He never hung out with the “in crowd.” In fact, He chose to spend His time with the down and out, outcast, lowly, and sinners. Right up to the end of His life He was setting the example of a true servant. He wants us to care for others like He did - and He told us to serve and help others.
Jesus gave His disciples a special commandment, a new commandment, as He celebrated His final Passover meal with them – and washed their feet. This new commandment was A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. John 13:34 This command gave the disciples a new standard to measure themselves by, the way they loved others. Jesus was setting an example for them. He instructed them to wash each other’s feet just as He has washed their feet. He served those who serve Him. This is the lesson of the least shall be the greatest and the greatest shall be the least. And Jesus wasn’t just setting an example, He was telling them to be humble and serve one another. This is how He expected them to treat each other, and others, after He left. I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you. Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. John 13:16-17
This example was not only for the disciples, but for us as well. We are to love and serve others the way Jesus loved and served when He was here on earth. He showed us with His very life that how we treat others will be more important than any other accomplishment we will ever achieve. So, what does a true servant look like? A true servant looks like Jesus Christ.
