We have many servants at our house. . . as do most westerners. Formally I call some of them Kenmore, Frigidaire, KitchenAid, Apple, and Sony. Grateful for the time they save me, I take care of them and try to treat them well. It’s amazing what they enable me to accomplish in a day, thanklessly offering their superior effort and efficiency.
Most days we share a happy existence. But should one of our workers slacks off or refuse to carry out routine tasks, we try to determine the cause and do our best to get it back to work, even if that requires seeing a specialist.
Should one stubbornly refuse to cooperate despite our best efforts, we find another helper with a better attitude. Servants with bad attitudes aren’t worth having around.
When we think of servants, especially from ancient times, the picture that most often comes to mind is one of reluctance, bondage, insecurity, and even misery.
Surprisingly, the Gospel of Mark portrays Jesus as a servant. And from Mark we learn that Jesus served willingly, eagerly, uninhibited, and full of joy!
Jesus came not to be served, but to serve, and to lay His life down as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).
He served humanity intentionally, not out of coercion. Mark paints a beautiful image of Jesus.
What else characterized Jesus’ servanthood?
He only said and did what His Father said and did.
He obeyed His Father in everything.
His service was not just natural, but supernatural.
And since we are to imitate Jesus in everything we do, Philippians 2:5-7 encourages us:
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant . . .
I’ve heard it said that the Christian life is not difficult; it’s impossible! That’s absolutely true. The only way we can live the life Jesus wants to live through us is by the power of the Holy Spirit.
We require supernatural strength to deny our flesh. We need prayerful empowerment to follow God at every turn. And the successful Christian life demands seeing beyond our earthly circumstances to live with a heavenly perspective. That’s why Jesus left us the Holy Spirit. Just as my “household servants” require electricity, God’s gift of the Spirit was given to empower and enlighten us.
As Jesus depended minute by minute on the Holy Spirit to lead and guide Him through the day, so can we. Since Jesus humbled Himself, we can humble ourselves, serving others rather than waiting to be served. Just as Jesus did not limit Himself to merely human strength, neither should we!
God has given us everything we need for life and godliness, through our knowledge of Him (2 Peter 1:3).
Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we, like Jesus, can be Super Servants!
