He Came to Serve
I had the opportunity to catch up with a friend (others would call him a student) earlier today and hear about his life in Sewickley since I've been gone. During our chat he also shared that he was going to call me later in the day; what a coincidence. He wanted to catch up as well, and even just wanted to learn more about God. Now, I realize that all-too-often I talk about God in a way that is so far from everyday life that He seems more distant than He really is. As I was digging for something to say that might make sense to him, I began to think about what God is doing in my life. As a result, I shared how God has blessed me with a few pastors at a church that I hope to learn from, grow through, and be challenged by. I told my friend how these men followed God by ministering to me in times of need and taking me in as if I were their own son. And it wasn't only the pastors who served me, but also their children by giving up their hot chocolate or their turn in playing a game. I brought it back together by saying that Jesus came not to be served, but to serve.
But at the end of my explanation, I knew something was missing. I couldn't just say that Jesus served others, because I've realized that serving is specific to need. You don't serve a drug addict by giving him money for drugs. But sometimes that's what we do in our "serving" or "loving others," provide people with an opportunity to indulge their flesh. On a side note, his phone conversation took place as I was driving to the mall and wrestling with the idea of buying and giving gifts to people who already have seemingly every material possession.
So as I am searching for how to clarify how you serve a person and how Jesus served us, my mind went blank. I think I uttered a few more words, but none of wisdom that could bring clarification. Our conversation ended shortly after that and I just hoped that the examples I gave earlier would suffice.
Interestingly enough, there was another coincidence later on today. As I read through my scheduled devotion, I came across the very words of Jesus in Matthew 20:28 that I had quoted earlier:
"even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve,
and to give his life as a ransom for many."
What a Homer Simpson moment - Dough! The rest of the verse clarified the way in which Jesus served us. He met our need by giving up His life so we could be reconciled to God. The Word has made clear exactly how Jesus served us through the example He set. "But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave."
May we all give this Christmas as Jesus who came to serve.
Lane
