Servant Spirit

“…You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant” Matt.20:25-26 [emphasis added]

He who wants to be the leader must be the servant. “…and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave” Matt.20:27 [emphasis added]. As though the word servant is not graphic enough, Jesus went on to further define it with the word slave. So it is not about “big man-ism” but rather it is about “big God-ism”. I know some of us will struggle with this but that is the Kingdom of God. It runs at variance to the systems of the world. Jesus is saying, I want the best for you. There is no point arguing or being disgruntled at James and John’s mother. I will give all of you the formula so everybody knows it and so you know what to do. The person that will be great in the Kingdom must be the servant.

Once in between worship experiences at God’s Favourite House, I walked passed a mother and her son on my way to the convenience. Later on the mother sent me a message to apologize for her son’s behavior. She claimed that he did not greet me properly but I thought the boy was cool. And when she was scolding him about it, he said, “how can that be the Pastor? He does not have bodyguards. I have seen Pastors, I know how they look”. And this family has been with the church for over a year. I had a good laugh. But think about it because the truth is that many times we miss it. Why do you think that they could not recognize Jesus amongst the twelve when they came to arrest Him at Gethsemane? They could not recognize Jesus because He was just like every other person. And that was why they needed someone to betray Him with a kiss. If not they probably would have arrested Peter instead. They would have arrested someone else so they needed someone on the inside to betray Him with a kiss. Why, because Jesus wore the same thing everybody wore. He went to the same bathroom as everyone else. He walked on the road just like everyone else. “Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him” Jn.13:3-5. Yet He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. So what is wrong with us? Some people insist on being honored in their place of worship because of what they have done. Come on – get a grip! This is the Kingdom of God!

Prayer: Holy Spirit, I need Your help. Lord, shape me and mold me so that my heart will be fully pleasing to my Father, in Jesus Name.