A series of five articles by Jacob Dominy.

CONTENTS

Service

Flowing or stagnant?

The Crumbs under the Table

Identity Crisis

Soaring like Eagles

Service

“Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10: 42- 45)

We must be prepared to serve; even to clean the toilets. We may have to serve for a long time in the most menial tasks; unseen and not seeking praise. Serving with a heart of love and enthusiasm are key: we must never serve in order to gain position.

Wildwood Church meets in a school, so every Sunday involves a lot of setup work. I have been on the set-up team at various times since 1988. Quite often this has meant making my own way to church, leaving early on a Sunday morning and having to walk or cycle there before I had a car.  It became more of a sacrifice when I was married, when I would cycle and find a lift for my wife. We are given clear instructions on how to serve in Matt 6: 3-4: “when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.” If we take the lowest place at the table (Luke 14:10) our host will eventually say ; “’Friend, we have a better place for you!’”

Jesus, the King of Kings,  gave us the ultimate example of royal behaviour to follow:
“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.” (John 13: 3-5)

Finally, 1 peter 4 10-11 tells us:
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

However we are called to serve, we carry on in that capacity until God makes a change.