Living the Servant Lifestyle Like Christ

Learning How to Live Like Jesus

This doesn’t have to do with long hair and a perfect beard, or togas and sandals, or learning Hebrew or the street language of Aramaic: Learning how to live like Jesus means learning how to live with his values for personal choices of behavior, and even more importantly, always seeing the dignity of humanity, God’s image in the souls of humankind, and see the possibilities not the problems.

Living A Servant Lifestyle

Paul wrote—or rather, dictated the book of Romans (Romans 16:22 tells us that he was using a scribe or secretary named Tertius to do the writing “22 I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.” ). Paul’s friend Luke traveled with him from the time when he traveled to Macedonia, preaching and planting churches from Philippi to Corinth. So it makes good sense when we find in Luke’s Gospel a theme that Paul shares in Romans 15 — the theme that Jesus, our Lord and Savior, lived among humanity as a servant even though he was greater than all.

Luke shares about the disciples of Jesus getting into an argument having to do with who should be in charge when Jesus in King, or when he is otherwise gone—he had just told them he wouldn’t survive this trip to Jerusalem.

Luke 22:24–25 ESV

24 A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25 And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors.

Typical for us to completely miss the point of what Jesus is telling us. So after Jesus tells them how the world typically behaves, He goes on to say how his followers should pay attention to His lifestyle to discover how to live:

Luke 22:26–27 ESV

26 But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. 27 For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.

So greatness is redefined as service. If you really are as great as you think you are, then prove it by being the one who serves better than anyone else. He uses himself as an example: You know how the table is arranged. You know who’s top dog by how the rest of the pack dotes on him. But that’s not Jesus’ example/

“I am among you as a servant.”

For God so loves the world that he sent his Son: He came to us to serve the heart-desires of God the Father.

Then, after washing the feet of his disciples, John relates what Jesus said to them in the upper room:

John 13:15–17 ESV

15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Christ is our example. He is the one for us to follow. It is his lifestyle that should form ours.

So lets see how Paul applies this to our service to one another as Christians:

A Servant Lifestyle Helps Others Thrive

By Helping those Whose Faith is Fragile

Romans 15:1 ESV

1 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

By Submitting to the Needs of One Another

Romans 15:2–3 ESV

2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”

By Using Scripture to Inform and Encourage

Romans 15:4 ESV

4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Because, after all,

It Is All for God’s Glory!

Which is the ultimate goal of anyone who serves God; the surprising point of this passage is that service to others is service to God, which brings God glory because people recognize why we serve them.

Paul illustrates this by talking about Unity and Tolerance, for both can be done for the Glory of God.

Our Unity Brings God Glory

Romans 15:5–6 ESV

5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Open-Hearted Christians Bring Glory to God

Romans 15:7 ESV

7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

God’s Faithfulness is Proved In Jesus Christ

For if we cannot count on God’s Faithfulness, we cannot count on his promises.

Jesus Christ came with the Gospel, the Good News, of God’s Grace to all. Not to replace the Law but to fulfill the law. To prove the promises of a Savior/Messiah is for both Jew and Gentile: A fact that was lost on the Jews.

Why? Because of their historical struggle for survival and the need to protect their special identity as followers of Yahweh. The problem with fighting for survival is that rest of the world becomes your enemy, not your mission field.

So in the presence of Jesus we have God proving his love for the world, sharing his heart of holiness through grace tempered by his righteous requirements.

Christ Confirms God’s Promises

Romans 15:8 ESV

8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,

Grace is Given for God’s Glory

Romans 15:9 ESV

9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.”

All Because of Jesus Christ

Romans 15:12 ESV

12 And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.”

Joyfully at Peace, Believing God for Hope

Romans 15:13 ESV

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.