1 Timothy 4:7-8...

CERTAINLY CHRISTIANITY HAS ITS WONDERFUL MOMENTS. THERE ARE DAYS WHEN WE DANCE ON THE TOPS OF THE MOUNTAINS. BUT THERE ARE ALSO DAYS WHEN FOLLOWING CHRIST INVOLVES GRITTY DECISIONS OF SELF-DENIAL AND CONSCIOUS CHOICES OF ETERNAL VALUE OVER SHORT-TERM PLEASURE. THIS IS THE BASIC NATURE OF DISCIPLINE. LET ME REVIEW ONCE AGAIN THE DEFINITION OF DISCIPLINE: WEBSTER DEFINES DISCIPLINE AS TRAINING THAT DEVELOPS SELF-CONTROL AND CHARACTER AND RESULTS IN AN ORDERLY AND EFFICIENT LIFE. IT IMPLIES STRICT CONTROL TO ENFORCE OBEDIENCE AND THEN ACCEPTANCE OF AND SUBMISSION TO AUTHORITY. WHERE THERE IS NO DISCIPLINE THERE WILL BE NO CHARACTER AND WHERE THERE IS NO CHARACTER THERE WILL BE NO LASTING SUCCESS.

Isa 38:16-20

16 O Lord, your discipline is good and leads to life and health. Oh, heal me and make me live! 17 "Yes, now I see it all-- it was good for me to undergo this bitterness, for you have lovingly delivered me from death; you have forgiven all my sins. 18 For dead men cannot praise you. They cannot be filled with hope and joy. 19 The living, only the living, can praise you as I do today. One generation makes known your faithfulness to the next.

20 Think of it! The Lord healed me! Every day of my life from now on I will sing my songs of praise in the Temple, accompanied by the orchestra."

WE HAVE SPENT CONSIDERABLE TIME STUDY THIS SERIES: DISCIPLINE THE WAY TO SUCCESS. IN FACT WE ARE INTO OUR 16TH SESSION. WE HAVE STUDIED THE DISCIPLINE OF DELAYED GRATIFI-CATION, THAT’S SAVING THE BEST FOR THE LAST, AND THEN WE STUDIED THE DISCIPLINE OF TAMING THE TONGUE AND SPENT 3 WEEKS THERE. NEXT WE LOOKED AT THE DISCIPLINE OF STUDYING GOD’S WORD AND THE DISCIPLINE OF SIMPLIFYING OUR LIVES. NEXT WE LOOKED AT THE DISCIPLINE OF MEDITATING ON GOD’S WORD AND THEN THE LAST 2 SESSIONS WE STUDIED THE DISCIPLINE OF FASTING. THIS MORNING WE ARE GOING TO STUDY THE DISCIPLINE OF SERVING CHRIST AND OTHERS.

THE DISCIPLINE OF SERVICE TEXT: JOHN 13: 12-17

John 13:12-17

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13 "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

AT THE LAST SUPPER WE FIND THE GREAT SERVANT SCENE OF JESUS' WASHING OF THE FEET OF THE DISCIPLES. LUKE'S GOSPEL TELLS US THAT THEY WERE DISPUTING AMONG THEMSELVES ABOUT WHO WAS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD! 22:24-27

Luke 22:24-27

24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. 25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

MATTHEW RECORDS FOR US A SIMILAR EVENT THAT PRECEDED CHRIST’S BETRAYAL AND DEATH. THIS TIME IT WAS THE MOTHER OF ZEBEDEES’S SONS WHO MADE A REQUEST TO JESUS THAT HER 2 SONS WOULD BE SEATED NEXT TO HIM IN HIS KINGDOM. THERE IS SOMETHING INHERENT IN OUR NATURE THAT HAS A PROCLIVITY TOWARDS WANTING TO BE GREAT. PERHAPS IT CAN BE TRACED BACK TO SELF EXALTATION OF SATAN HIMSELF:

Isa 14:12-15

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

PRIOR TO THE TIME WE WERE SAVED THE BIBLE CALLED US THE CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE OR THE CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL AND THAT WAS AN ACCURATE ASSESSMENT. EVERY MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD THAT IS BORN COMES INTO THIS WORLD WITH A SIN NATURE. AFTER ACCEPTING CHRIST AS SAVIOR WE BECOME PARTAKERS OF A DIVINE NATURE AND OUR SINFUL NATURE BECOMES CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST. WE NO LONGER HAVE A NATURE THAT IS PRONE TO SIN AND SELFISHNESS. WE HAVE GOD’S NATURE IN US INSTEAD. THE AREA WE STRUGGLE WITH IS THAT OUR HUMAN NATURE HAS BEEN CONTAMINATED AND INFLUENCED BY THE SINFUL NATURE WHICH RESULTS IN A TENDENCY TOWARDS SIN AND SELFISHNESS WHICH MUST BE DISCIPLINED UNTIL OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST IS FULFILLED IN OUR LIVES AND THE DIVINE NATURE HAS ITS PROPER PLACE OF INFLUENCE IN OUR LIVES. LET’S READ THE ACCOUNT OF A GOOD MOTHER WHO ONLY SOUGHT THE BEST FOR HER 2 SONS IN:

Matt 20:20-28

20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, (WITH A HIDDEN AGENDA) and desiring a certain thing of him. 21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. 22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. 23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. 24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. 25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

SERVICE PROVIDES THE OBVIOUS BENEFIT OF HELPING OTHERS AND ACCOMPLISHING TASKS. BUT FOR THE SERVER, THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF SERVICE IS A MEANS OF BRINGING ABOUT THE DEFEAT OF SELFISHNESS AND THE DESTRUCTION OF A SELF-CENTERED LIFE. TRADITION DIES SCREAMING BUT SELF DIES HARDER! OUR HUMAN NATURE PLOTS AND PLANS FOR WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN BE SERVED RATHER THAN SERVE. SERVICE IS A DISCIPLINE THAT CULTIVATES HUMILITY IN OUR CHARACTER. NOW, HOW CAN SERVICE MAKE US SUCCESSFUL? DON’T SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE HAVE OTHERS SERVE THEM? THE BIBLE TELLS US TO HUMBLE OURSELVES BEFORE THE HAND OF GOD AND HE WILL EXALT US AND PROMOTE US TO A HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL LIFE.

John 12:26

26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

IN JN. 13, JESUS SURPRISES US AS HE CHOOSES SUCH AN ORDINARY TASK IN WHICH TO ILLUSTRATE THE KIND OF SERVICE TO WHICH EACH OF US IS CALLED. HE TOOK A TOWEL AND WASHED DIRTY FEET, PROVIDING COMFORT TO MEN WEARY OF WALKING THRU A LONG DAY. WHAT A SIMPLE YET PROFOUND ACT!

WE LONG FOR THE GRAND GESTURE, THE BIG MOMENT OF SERVICE THAT WILL SHOW ALL THE WORLD THAT WE ARE A REAL CHRISTIAN, BUT ALL TOO OFTEN WE AVOID THE ORDINARY, UNNOTICED JOBS THAT ARE THE TRUEST KIND OF CHRISTIAN SERVICE. RICHARD FOSTER, IN THE CELEBRATION OF DISCIPLINE, WRITES.... IN SOME WAYS WE WOULD PREFER TO HEAR JESUS' CALL TO DENY FATHER AND MOTHER, HOUSES AND LAND FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOSPEL, THAN HIS WORD TO WASH FEET. RADICAL SELF-DENIAL GIVES US THE FEELING OF ADVENTURE. IF WE FORSAKE ALL, WE EVEN HAVE THE CHANCE AT GLORIOUS MARTYRDOM. BUT IN SERVICE, WE ARE BANISHED TO THE MUNDANE, THE ORDINARY, AND THE TRIVIAL.

LET ME PUT IT ANOTHER WAY FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE. PREACH-ING THIS SERMON SEEMS, TO BE A DESIRABLE SERVICE FOR SOME PEOPLE. IN THEIR HEARTS THEY THINK, "I WOULD FAITHFULLY SERVE GOD IF I COULD STAND BEFORE A CONGREGATION TALKING ABOUT GOD. IT WOULD BE SO WONDERFUL." MOST WHO THINK SO ROMANTICALLY, HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT THE HOURS SPENT IN SOLITARY THOUGHT IN PREPARATION TO SPEAK. THEY HAVE LITTLE GRASP OF WHAT IT MEANS TO WRESTLE WITH IDEAS AND TO WAIT ON GOD FOR INSPIRATION THAT MAKES A SERMON. THOSE HOURS ALONE IN MY OFFICE ARE THE TRUER SERVICE TO THE CHURCH THAN THESE FEW MINUTES OF PUBLIC MINISTRY. DOES THE AVERAGE PERSON THINK ABOUT THAT? NOT USUALLY! HOW MUCH MINISTRY IS LIKE THAT. WE SEE ONLY THE PERFORMANCE, ONLY THE PUBLIC FACE, BUT FORGET THE SERVICE BEHIND IT ALL.

THE SOLOIST ON STAGE GETS THE APPLAUSE, BUT HER PERFORM-ANCE WOULD BE MUCH LESS APPRECIATED WITHOUT THE MUSICIANS UNSEEN IN THE ORCHESTRA PIT. IT IS LIKE THAT IN MOST ENTER-PRISES. THERE ARE A FEW WHO ARE UP FRONT, RECOGNIZED FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO. BUT THOSE UP FRONT ARE SUPPORTED BY A VAST ARMY OF UNSEEN SERVANTS WHO LABOR VISIBLE ONLY TO EYE OF GOD.

Matt 18:1-4

1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

KIDS SING A SONG THAT IS SCRIPTURAL RIGHT ON TARGET, "IF YOU WANT TO BE GREAT IN GOD'S KINGDOM, LEARN TO BE THE SERVANT OF ALL." ARE YOU WILLING TO EMBRACE THE DISCIPLINE OF SERVICE? WHAT MOTIVATES US TO SERVICE? THERE WILL BE MANY MOTIVATIONS, BUT ONLY ONE IS NOBLE AND THAT IS LOVE!

Gal 5:13-14

13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Eph 6:5-8

5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: 8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

IF THE PROMISE OF REWARD MOTIVATES US, WE MAY BE DISTRACTED FROM FAITHFUL SERVICE BY AN OFFER OF A GREATER OR MORE PLEASING REWARD.

• IF RECOGNITION IS WHAT WE CRAVE, WE WILL SERVE ONLY WHEN THE STROKES ARE COMING DOWN ON US.
• IF WE WANT TO SEEM TO BE A CONSECRATED CHRISTIAN, WE WILL BECOME SUPERFICIAL AND SERVE ONLY WHEN SOMEONE IS WATCHING.

UNWORTHY, SELF-CENTERED SERVICE IS ALL TOO OFTEN OFFERED UP IN THE CHURCH.

WHEN THERE IS AN ABSENCE OF VISION AND AN ABSENCE OF LOVE FOR GOD AND FOR OTHERS, IF WE SERVE AT ALL, WE LIKELY WILL DO SO GRUDGINGLY, DOING THE MINIMUM. IN SUCH CASE OUR SERVICE BECOMES SERVITUDE, A DREARY DUTY. IT WILL NOT BLESS OTHERS BECAUSE THE TRUE FOCUS OF DUTIFUL SERVICE OFFERED WITHOUT LOVE IS STILL SELF. THE UNDERLYING THOUGHT IS: "I SURELY HOPE SOMEBODY NOTICES THAT I'M KILLING

MYSELF DOING THIS JOB!"

Matt 6:21-24

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

THE REASON I CALL SERVICE A DISCIPLINE IS BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING WE DON’T NATURALLY WANT TO DO. ITS NOT UNTIL WE GET A VISION AND REVELATION OF CHRIST AND WHAT HE DID FOR US THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND THE TRUE NATURE AND CALLING OF GOD UPON OUR LIVES:

Phil 2:3-14

3 Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. 4 Don't just think about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and in what they are doing. 5 Your attitude should be the kind that was shown us by Jesus Christ, 6 who, though he was God, did not demand and cling to his rights as God, 7 but laid aside his mighty power and glory, taking the disguise of a slave and becoming like men. 8 And he humbled himself even further, going so far as actually to die a criminal's death on a cross. 9 Yet it was because of this that God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name which is above every other name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 Dearest friends, when I was there with you, you were always so careful to follow my instructions. And now that I am away you must be even more careful to do the good things that result from being saved, obeying God with deep reverence, shrinking back from all that might displease him. 13 For God is at work within you, helping you want to obey him, and then helping you do what he wants. 14 In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing

IN HIS VOLUNTARY SELF HUMILIATION JESUS HUMBLED HIMSELF AND BECAME A MAN SO THAT HE COULD LIVE A PERFECT LIFE AND BECOME THE PERFECT ATONING SACRIFICE AND PROVIDE ETERNAL REDEMPTION FOR MANKIND. HE NOT ONLY BECAME A MAN BUT AS A MAN HE TOOK ON THE NATURE OF A SERVANT AND BECAME OBEDIENT TO DEATH EVEN THE DEATH OF THE CROSS. THE WORD FOR SERVANT HERE IS THE GREEK WORD DULOS.

TRANSPARENCY:

DO WE SERVE ONLY WHERE WE ARE TALENTED OR SPIRITUALLY GIFTED? THERE IS A MYTH ABOUT SERVICE THAT IS BELIEVED BY MANY CHRISTIANS. IT GOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS, "IF I ONLY HAD THE GIFT OF "WHATEVER" I COULD SERVE IN THAT CAPACITY WITH JOY." THEY HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD ONLY DO THINGS FOR GOD THAT THEY PERSONALLY FIND ENJOYABLE AND/OR ATTRACTIVE TO THEIR UNIQUE PREFERENCES AND PERSONALITY. YOU SEE, THAT MYTH IS JUST THAT! IT IS SELFISHNESS RE-WRAPPED IN A PACKAGE THAT ONLY LOOKS SPIRITUAL. WHILE THE SPIRIT OF GOD DOES GIVE US SPIRITUAL GIFTS THAT ARE TO BE USED IN OUR SERVICE, NONE OF THOSE GIFTS IS MAXIMIZED WITHOUT SOME DISCIPLINED WORK THAT LEADS TO THEIR FULL DEVELOPMENT. THAT DISCIPLINE KICKS IN WHEN THE "NEWNESS" AND THE EXCITEMENT WEARS OFF.

Prov 6:6-11

6 Take a lesson from the ants, you lazy fellow. Learn from their ways and be wise!7 For though they have no king to make them work, 8 yet they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. 9 But you-- all you do is sleep. When will you wake up? 10 "Let me sleep a little longer!" Sure, just a little more! 11 And as you sleep, poverty creeps upon you like a robber and destroys you; want attacks you in full armor.

Gal 5:13

13For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

SOME WORK MUST BE DONE SIMPLY BECAUSE IT IS THERE TO BE DONE. WE DO IT QUITE FORGETTING OUR PREFERENCE, OUR COMFORT, OR OUR CONVENIENCE. IN THAT KIND OF SELF-FORGETFULNESS GOD IS HONORED AND WE LEARN QUITE HUMILITY. AS I UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE, IF ONE SERVES IN ANY CAPACITY, EVEN CLEANING THE CHURCH, AS AN ACT OF LOVE FOR CHRIST, HE WILL ENJOY HEAVEN'S BLESSINGS AS SURELY AS THE ONE WHOSE PRIVILEGE IT IS TO DELIVER A SERMON IN THE PULPIT. BOTH ACTS OF SERVICES ARE OF VALUE TO GOD!

THERE IS A BALANCE. THE WORD DOES NOT SUGGEST THAT A CHRISTIAN OUGHT TO DIE FROM LACK OF SLEEP BECAUSE HE IS ALWAYS DOING SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE. WE NEED WISDOM TO KNOW WHERE GOD IS DIRECTING EACH TO SERVE. IT’S ALWAYS APPROPRIATE TO ASK THE LORD IF A TASK THAT YOU NOTICE IS GOING UNDONE IS YOURS TO DO. BUT CHRISTIAN, IF WE ARE HONEST, GENERALLY OUR PROBLEM IS NOT TOO MUCH SERVICE; IT IS TOO MUCH SELF. WE ARE BUSY! HOWEVER, MOST OF OUR BUSINESS, IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO OUR OWN AIMS, OUR OWN GOALS, AND OUR OWN PLEASURES. IF WE ARE WORKING HARD, IT ISN'T THAT WE ARE WORKING OURSELVES TO DEATH IN THE SERVICE OF CHRIST!

;ET ME ASK YOU THIS QUESTION: IS THERE TO BE NO RANK OR AUTHORITY IN THE CHURCH? ARE WE ALL EQUAL?

YES AND NO! THAT IS A SAFE ANSWER, ISN'T IT? ACTUALLY JESUS NEVER TAUGHT THAT ALL OF HAVE EQUAL AUTHORITY. HE CLEARLY RECOGNIZED THAT AUTHORITY AND LEADERSHIP IS NECESSARY FOR ANY ENDEAVOR TO SUCCEED. WHAT JESUS DID TEACH IS THAT POWER AND AUTHORITY ARE GRANTED IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD DIFFERENTLY THAN THEY ARE GAINED IN THE WORLD SYSTEM.

IN THE WORLD SYSTEM, POWER IS GAINED PRIMARILY BY INTIMIDA-TION. IT IS HELD BY FEAR AND MANIPULATION. AUTHORITY IS USED TO COMMAND OTHERS TO DO WHAT THE LEADER WANTS THEM TO DO. THOSE WHO HAVE GAINED POWER SHOW IT WITH ALL KINDS OF SYMBOLS: BIGGER OFFICES, MORE PERKS, MORE SECRETARIES, LIMOS, UNIFORMS, ETC.

HERE IS WHAT JESUS SAID, "YOU'VE OBSERVED HOW GODLESS RULERS THROW THEIR WEIGHT AROUND, HOW QUICKLY A LITTLE POWER GOES TO THEIR HEADS. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THAT WAY WITH YOU. WHOEVER WANTS TO BECOME GREAT MUST BECOME A SERVANT. WHOEVER WANTS TO BE FIRST AMONG YOU MUST BECOME YOUR SLAVE. THAT IS WHAT THE SON OF MAN HAS DONE: HE CAME TO SERVE, NOT TO BE SERVED__ AND THEN TO GIVE AWAY HIS LIFE IN EXCHANGE FOR THE MANY HELD HOSTAGE (BY SIN.)" MATTHEW 20:26-28 THE MESSAGE

FOR JESUS ULTIMATE AUTHORITY IS FOUND IN ENABLING OTHERS TO DO WHAT GOD HAS CALLED THEM TO DO. POWER IS FOUND IN SERVING, IN GIVING UP RIGHTS. HIS MARK OF AUTHORITY AND POWER WAS NOT THE THRONE BUT THE TOWEL! HE CHANGED THE WORLD NOT WITH A SWORD, BUT FROM A CROSS!

BILL HYBELS, PASTOR OF WILLOWCREEK COMMUNITY CHURCH, SAYS "THE WAY UP IS DOWN. IN GOD'S KINGDOM WE DESCEND INTO GREATNESS!" GOD IS LOOKING FOR SERVANT LEADERS NOT PEOPLE WHO WANT A POSITION OR A TITLE. THE WAY UP IS DOWN AND IF YOU WANT TO BE GREAT IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND IN THE CHURCH TODAY THEN YOU MUST BE WILLING TO SERVE CHRIST AND OTHERS. THE DAYS OF TITLE POWER AND POSITION ARE OVER IN THIS CHURCH. IF YOU WANT A POSITION OF LEADERSHIP IN SOME CAPACITY THEN YOU MUST BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SOMETHING OTHER THAN HOLDING ON TO YOUR TITLE OR POSITION. ITS NOT YOUR POSITION THAT MAKES YOU A LEADER, ITS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SERVE CHRIST AND OTHERS IN SOME WAY.

Matt 20:26-28

26 But among you it is quite different. Anyone wanting to be a leader among you must be your servant. 27 And if you want to be right at the top, you must serve like a slave. 28 Your attitude must be like my own, for I, the Messiah, did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give my life as a ransom for many."

THE NORMAL PERSON SEEKS TO BE RELIEVED OF WORK, TO HAVE OTHERS SERVE. THE GODLY PERSON WILLINGLY EMBRACES RESPONSIBILITY AS A MEANS OF HONORING GOD AND BLESSING OTHERS IN HIS NAME.

ENGAGE YOURSELF IN THE DISCIPLINE OF SERVICE FOR THE PUR-POSE OF GODLINESS. DENY THE URGE TO ONLY DO WHAT APPEALS TO YOU. FROM TIME TO TIME, CHOOSE TO DO THAT WHICH ACTUALLY REPELS YOU! IT CAN DO WONDERS FOR YOUR HUMILITY.

• DEVELOP SERVANT EYES THAT SEES TASKS BEFORE THEY ARE POINTED OUT.
• SEEK TO BE MOTIVATED IN YOUR SERVICE BY THE LOVE OF CHRIST.

HERE'S A PROMISE FOR FAITHFUL SERVANTS THAT IS FOUND IN HEBREWS 6:10-12