Serving With Humility

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE

SERVING WITH HUMILITY

Luke 22:24-30

24 Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29 And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

NIV

Although those sitting on thrones and judging the twelve tribes of Israel may be reserved for the disciples who were with Jesus during those years, the dispute and the truth about it certainly can apply to everyone to this day and beyond. Who is the greatest in the kingdom of God? According to Jesus, it is the youngest, and one who rules like the one who serves is the greatest.  There is no problem about us wanting to serve and doing so. Many of us do many acts of service to the kingdom or at least to the church, meaning people. We must be careful not to lord our position or title over others. We are not to think more highly of ourselves than we should because someone has conferred on someone a higher rank than another. Serving and being of service to others is the truth Jesus is showing everyone through his own life. He is the greatest there can ever be in the kingdom of God, for He is God, the creator of all that has been created and yet He came to serve his people, die for them, for us, so our sins can be forgiven. He served ultimately, giving his life for us. Men and women have given their lives fighting for freedom by serving in the armed forces. However, how can we show this kind of service in the world today? Many of us have never served in the armed forces but have only lived most of our lives as believers, living within the confines of the community of faith. How can we serve in the fullness of humility? We think that if we can see ourselves honestly, then we can determine our motives for doing anything in the kingdom of God. Are we doing our righteous acts of service to be seen by others with a prideful heart because of our position or title or because our heart is full of humility that God would call us to serve others by being who we are and doing what we do? Let us always see humility when we are alone and look in the mirror then we can know when we are with others, we will be serving with humility.