https://odb.org/MY/2023/04/06/the-challenge-to-serve
In my post yesterday, I mentioned that although salvation is by the grace of God and not by our works, our lives need to be transformed and there is much work to be done in the Kingdom of God after we accepted Christ. https://ronnielim.com/2023/04/05/giving-our-lives-to-christ/
In today’s Scriptural reading of John 13:3-15, Jesus spoke about what it means to serve. He showed us by His example of washing His disciples’ feet although He is their Lord and Master. To understand the significance, we need to know that washing someone’s feet is the most menial of jobs of a servant during those times. Meaning to say, in the hierarchy of a household then, the lowest rung person will be given that task. This is because they wear sandals to move around in very dusty and dirty environments. It is somewhat equivalent to running around photostating or scanning documents that interns are asked to do in the modern office, although nowadays, with PDF and digital signatures, we do less photocopying. In John 13, Jesus, the Immanuel, our God incarnate, washed the feet of His disciples. Peter was the first to refuse, but he relented when Jesus told him that he would not be a part of Him if he refused.
As Jesus had mentioned before in another context, to be first, we need to be last first and servant of all (Mark 9:35). Leadership in the Kingdom of God is thus a servant leadership. As leaders in the church, we are there to serve the needs of the congregation. We are not there to ‘lord’ over them or to use them for our goals and purposes. We are there to meet their needs and not the other round.
The crux of serving God is thus servanthood as Jesus had demonstrated. We are servants in the Kingdom of God. We are to serve one another, help each other become better people in Christ. Help each other manifest our attributes and character as new creations in Christ. If we see a brother or sister with an issue or a weakness, we need to help not condemn them as everyone is a ‘work in progress’.
That is why the fruit of the Spirit is important. In dealing with various characters in the church, we need to exercise lots of patience, compassion, and love. It is easy to get angry and agitated, but we need to refrain from doing so. Everyone must do their part, and much can be achieved if we are all in this together. As we all strive together in serving God, we will all enjoy together the blessings and goodness that come with serving God. The heavens will open up, and God’s heavenly blessings will be poured out to all of us as a congregation of believers! But remember, in serving God, we are servants of God and one another!
Ronnie's Thoughts 