Posted on November 22, 2023 by Elizabeth Welte in Victory Call
I felt the Lord impress upon my heart: “Be a servant.” My initial response was to shrink back. Have you ever noticed some people are easier to serve than others? Some people I delight to serve, others not-so-much. God used this moment to reveal the pride and haughtiness in my own heart.
We cannot grow in Christlikeness without growing a servant-heart. And being a servant means we don’t choose who we serve and who we don’t. Having a Christlike heart of a servant is not something that gets turned on and off. It’s not something we do, but who we are. Christ modeled a servant’s heart and we are called to imitate Him.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant… Philippians 2:5-7
[he made himself nothing (NIV); he humbled himself (KJV); he set aside the privileges of deity (The Message)]
A servant-heart begins with HUMILITY.
“…But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:26-28
A servant-heart embraces the higher calling of SACRIFICE.
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13
A servant-heart is motivated by LOVE.
If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. John 13:14
A servant-heart is a BLESSING TO OTHERS.
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace… 1 Peter 4:10
My initial reaction of shrinking back perhaps is not all that uncommon – our culture doesn’t look favorably on servants. Our world tells us servants are less-than. But God tells us the opposite. Serving the needs of others with humility, sacrifice and love is a HIGHER calling in God’s eyes and a blessing to others.
Father forgive me for my haughty spirit that has prevented me from being the servant You called me to be. Thank You for Your example to show me a Servant-heart but also for the strength and power I need to be a servant. Change me from the inside out and may my heart grow to be more like Yours. I love You Jesus.
Written by Diane Hunt: Diane Hunt serves on the board of America’s Keswick and is the Executive Director & CEO of Changed Choices, a Christian non-profit in North Carolina. She is also a biblical counselor and women’s event speaker. For more information about having Diane speak at your next event please contact her at dhunt@americaskeswick.org.
Think About This: “No matter how little it might seem, if you are doing it for the Lord and you are doing it with a pure heart, it is not a waste of time”― Sunday Adelaja
The Daily Bible Reading: Acts 14,James 1-4. You can download our 2023 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here.
This Week’s Verse to Memorize: “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:28-29
Consider a retreat at America’s Keswick retreat center.
