| Subject: Devotional #24; August 23, 2001 |
Author:
Gail
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Date Posted: 06:26:13 08/23/01 Thu
Topic—Servant Leaders
Power Point—We make ourselves servants to all that we might win all the more.
This Week’s Memory Verses—Matthew 20:27–28
Access Database—Matthew 20:20–28
Serve Others
by Eric Partin
After we Leave Everything and then Advance to the Bonus Round, the next step in being L.A.S.T. in the kingdom is to Serve Others. Jesus rocks the disciples’ world with His dissertation in Matthew 20 about becoming a slave for others. It shocks them because they obviously had the wrong idea concerning the kingdom of God and the way it’s set up. Jesus sets them straight by commanding them to be the servants of everyone.
Jesus set the example for us in John 13 by girding himself with a servant’s cloth and kneeling down to wash the disciples’ feet. This portion of scripture really hit home with me while I was working at UPS. At UPS, the first thing you do every morning after arriving at work is to shine your shoes. They are very particular about our appearance, wanting us to look sharp and professional. As I was shining my shoes at the shoeshine stand, Mark walked up to polish his shoes. Now, Mark was one of those guys who always seemed angry at the world because of missed opportunities and passed-up promotions that he thought he deserved—not the least of which was being passed up by the NFL draft after being a college quarterback. All of his childhood, Mark had dreamed of being a Nike endorser. Instead, he was a UPS driver. In his superior thinking, surfer dudes like me were just here on earth to be the butt of his jokes, especially Christian surfer dudes. Anyway, while I was there shining my shoes, the Lord spoke to me to shine Mark’s shoes. Mark must have really thought I was crazy when He saw me arguing back and forth with the Lord on why I shouldn’t have to do that. Finally, I gave in. You can’t imagine how humbling it was to get down on my knees and shine the shoes of the man who enjoyed making me look like a fool. At that point, I was being like Jesus for Mark to see.
God’s desire is not to humiliate us, but His desire is for us to humble ourselves and become the slaves for all, that we might win all the more.
Now go back and read Matthew 20:20–28 one more time.
Identity Matrix—Disciples of Christ...
Know God—In what way did God reveal Himself to you as you read His Word?
Live for God—What one lifestyle change is God calling you to make?
Love Others—In what way is God calling you to minister to someone in need?
Bear Fruit—In what ways will you set the example and the standard for others to follow?
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