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The question comes to mind what kind of servant are we becoming?  Are we serving with the same heart and commitment that Jesus did?  We are all supposed to emulate Him and in always show His heart.

 

  1. John 13:3-5

'Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. '

 

 

  1. This is the kind of servant Jesus was. He is the Son of God and here we find Him washing the disciples feet.  Including one He knew was going to betray Him.

 

  1. Matthew 20:26-28

 

'Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”'

 

 

  1. As Jesus’s ambassadors here on earth we must be more like him in all ways. Now I am not saying you have to go out and wash feet but, in all ways, we have to serve people including the ones that we don’t like.

 

 

  1. Let’s look back at John 13:3-5 Jesus is washing all their feet including Judas Iscariot and this is a man He knew was going to betray Him!

 

  1. Charles Spurgeon said “Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter”

 

  1. Jesus Himself is modeling the very meaning of Chistian living. It is not about being first, but last.  It is not about being served but serving.  It’s not about gaining but giving.

 

  1. I am not just talking about when something needs to be done here at the church but in every moment of your life.

 

  1. If we claim to follow Christ, then we must also follow in His footsteps of service. We must be missionaries wherever we are, serving others with the love and humility of Christ!

 

  1. The call of the church is to be more like Jesus. We must rethink our understanding of greatness.  It is a call that invites us to become servants.

 

  1. Service in the church is more than being a Pastor, an Elder, Piano player or music leader. Its about every member of the body of Christ using their gifts to build up the church and serve others.

 

  1. Serving is not just about what we do. It’s about the attitude we do it with. 

 

  1. It’s about serving with a heart of humility, recognizing that we are not serving to be seen by others, but to honor God.

 

  1. It’s about serving with a heart of faithfulness, committing to serve even when it’s hard, even when we’re tired, even when we just don’t feel like it.

 

  1. This is a servant’s heart, this is the kind of heart Jesus modeled for us. He did not come to serve but to be served.  He did not come to be first, but last.  He did not come to gain, but to give freely.  And as His followers we are supposed to do the same.

 

  1. We have to recognize that it is not optional to have a servant’s heart, it is essential to have one.

 

  1. It’s not something we do out of obligation, but out of love for God and for others.

 

  1. Sometimes the Spirit will lead us in ways that are out of our normal. But He will always equip us for what ever form of servanthood we are called to.

 

  1. And He is faithful to serve along beside us.

 

  1. This kind of service will transform our hearts and mold us more into the image of Christ. This kind of servant’s heart will show the world the Kingdom of God.

 

  1. The first part of this transformation is how we see others and interact with them. We want to judge them by their wealth and social status in life.  But in God’s Kingdom all these worldly things will fade away. 

 

  1. Jesus told us that “whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant”. This means we are all called to serve everyone regardless

 

 of whom they are or where they came from.

 

  1. This means when we look at someone, we only see the image of God and we treat them with the dignity and respect they deserve as a Child of God.

 

  1. Jesus gave everything including His life and we are called to do the same. Instead of trying to accumulate wealth and possessions we need to concentrate on using our gifts to help others.  Remembering everything we have is His anyway.

 

  1. We have to remember the call to service is not about what we have but

 

  1. about whom we are inside. We are living out the identity of God.  We are showing the love, grace and mercy of God in our interactions with others.

 

  1. Just like with tithing when we tithe, we need to do it with a servant’s heart not out of obligation but out of a deep since of love and gratitude for God’s abundant grace in our lives.

 

  1. We are acknowledging that everything we have is a gift from God, and we are simply returning a portion of what He has entrusted us with.

 

  1. 2nd Corinthians 9:7 says, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver”.

That is one of the things I love about the cowboy way we let God be God and what you give is between you and Him.

 

  1. It is nobody else’s business if you read your Bible you know what it says.

 

  1. This verse, like many others, show the importance of the heart’s condition. Nothing we do should be a burdensome duty, but a joyful response to God’s generosity. 

 

  1. It’s about cultivating a heart that finds delight in serving God in all ways. Having a heart that mirrors the heart of Jesus.  Having a heart that is willing to surrender our lives of service to God and others.

 

  1. We are called to serve, not because it earns us favor with God, but because it reflects His heart. It’s a response to the incredible love and grace that we’ve received from Him.

 

  1. It’s an expression of our gratitude and our desire to share His love with others.

 

  1. We need to strive to be servants in all that we do, whether it’s in our interaction with others, our giving, and our daily living.

 

  1. Let’s strive to be more like Jesus, the ultimate servant leader