GraceCreates

By Jon Walker

“All of you, serve each other in humility, for God sets himself against the proud, but he shows favor to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5 NLT)

Serving others requires forgetfulness on your part: You need to forget your own needs.

You cannot be self-centered and serve the real needs of another person. “Don’t be selfish …,” Paul says in Philippians 2:3, “Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself.” (NLT)

Jesus gave his disciples an example of this humility when he stooped to wash their feet: “So during the meal Jesus stood up and took off his outer clothing. Taking a towel, he wrapped it around his waist. Then he poured water into a bowl and began to wash the followers’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” (John 13:4-5 NCV)

Foot-washing was customary back then (not just for pedicures!) because people wore sandals or walked barefoot on dusty roads. Usually a host had his servants do the dirty chore, but Jesus saved this service for himself, “taking the very nature of a servant ….” (Philippians 2:7 NIV)

It is interesting to note that the disciples hadn’t already taken care of the dirty feet, not even slipping into a self-service scrub. Could it be they considered this task beneath their dignity?

But it wasn’t beneath Jesus.

He placed his disciples’ needs above his own – even as he approached his darkest hour.

What does this mean?

• The forgetful servant – The life of a servant requires a kind of forgetfulness, the ability to forget our own needs in the process of tending to someone else’s. “We should please others. If we do what helps them, we will build them up in the Lord. For even Christ didn’t please himself.” (Romans 15:2-3 NLT) Look to the needs of others, and trust God to supply your own needs. (Philippians 4:19)
• Live well for others – “We want to live well,” Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:24, “but our foremost efforts should be to help others live well.” (MSG) Everyone we serve is someone important to serve.
• Do what Jesus does – “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” (John 13:14 NIV) How would this change your marriage (or some other family), if you began to serve another person before you considered your own needs?

Jon Walker is the teaching pastor for “The Purpose Driven Life Daily Devotionals,” and resident writer at www.GraceCreates.com. This devotional is copyrighted 2008 by Jon Walker. Used by permission.

By Jon Walker

“Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had – though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave ….” (Philippians 2:5-7  NLT)

Cooperation is doing with a smile what you have to do anyway.  You’ll never find that sentence in the Bible, but I think its spirit is implied throughout God’s Word.  We are called to be obedient to God’s commands, and part of that obedience is having a sensitive servant’s attitude.

I learned this lesson years ago when I was working for someone, who at the time, I didn’t respect.  I would do whatever he asked me to do – eventually – but I tended to drag my feet, complain, or point out how wrong he was.

God used that relationship to teach me godly obedience. Through his Word, God taught me to obey my earthly authorities. He showed me that Christ-like character required me to work with the same servant’s attitude, regardless of how I felt about my work environment or my employer.

God not only changed my attitude, he led me to seek forgiveness from my boss for my disrespectful attitude.  It was a major turning point in my life, as I came to understand what it meant to be a man under authority, regardless of who was in authority.

God can work through a boss who is a model of godliness, and he can work through a boss who is a tyrant. No matter who we work for, ultimately, God is our authority, so in any situation we should work as unto the Lord.

And you know what? As I responded to God’s authority through my earthly employer, I developed considerable respect for my boss, and he became one of my greatest mentors and supporters.  Though not a believer, he taught me, “Cooperation is doing with a smile what you have to do anyway.” 

What does this mean?

• Live the Gospel – How you conduct yourself at work is part of your Christian witness.  Today, go beyond the minimum requirements and see how those around you respond. To quote Francis of Assisi: “Share the gospel; if necessary, use words.”
• Change your attitude – Be respectful, helpful, and gracious to those in authority over you – no matter how difficult it may be. 
• Go the extra mile with a smile – Christ said, “If someone compels you to carry his pack one mile, carry it two.” People are more likely to listen to what you say when your actions show respect and concern for them, when you do more than the minimum required.
• Hey, God, a little help! – Ask God to turn those tough situations at work into opportunities to share the Gospel – but check your own attitude first.

Jon Walker is the teaching pastor for “The Purpose Driven Life Daily Devotionals,” and resident writer at www.GraceCreates.com. This devotional is copyrighted 2008 by Jon Walker. Used by permission.