Servants of the Kingdom: Embracing the Call to Serve

This week were gonna continue talking about spiritual disciplines. For those of you that missed last week due to spring break we talked about the importance of fasting. And how we model Christ through the practice of fasting. Tonight we are going to be talking about being a servant and how Christ served his people.

What is the importance of serving?

The greatest commandment that we are given in scripture is Matthew 22:37 “And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”

When we serve others we model our lives after Jesus. If we truly want to follow this commandment and we love God and our neighbor then we will serve his people. If we are truly following Christ but were not finding an avenue to serve others then are we really following that commandment?

When we serve others we are putting them ahead of our needs, were putting God above our desires, and we humble ourselves.

So why is serving a spiritual discipline?

Putting others ahead of ourselves is not a natural thing for us to do. We tend to be selfish and prideful. We let our selfishness and pride tell us that we don't need to serve others. What are others going to say if they see me out helping those that need help? I have others things to do. Id rather be doing something else. Id rather someone serve me.

Those things that we tell ourselves like that are not from God. Those are the opposite of his will for us. He wants us to serve him and further the kingdom. If were not serving were not growing. If were not discipling ourselves to find ways to serve then were not following the example of jesus.

So what is a way that Jesus models humility and love by serving?

Bible Passage: John 13:12–17

John 13:12–17 ESV

When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 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. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

1. Significant Service: Leading with Love

John 13:12–13 “When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.”

In these verses we look in right after Jesus has washed his disciples feet. Culturally what is the importance of washing feet?

Because of the fact that everyone wore sandals everywhere and they didn’t get a chance to bathe very often and they were traveling by foot in a dusty dirty environment they're feet would be gross. So whenever you would enter someones home it was customary practice of hospitality to wash the feet of your guest. Often this was performed by the servant of the head of the house. The act of footwashing was humbling. You have to be in a position of submission to the person whose feet your washing.

So why would the Son of God wash the feet of his disciples? In him performing this action he was foreshadowing his death on the cross. He was washing their feet clean like his blood would wash our spirits clean. He took the position of a servant to but why?

2. Simple Acts: Following Jesus’ Example

John 13:14–15 “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.”

He wanted to model a servant so that we would model him. If we are to call Jesus our Lord and teacher then we have to follow his example that he is showing us here. We are told that we should be washing one another’s feet. We are to humble ourselves and serve others. Obviously in today's society is beyond feet washing as a practice. Most of us shower daily and wash our feet regularly when we shower. So obviously he is talking about more than washing feet. Hes modeling servanthood to us. He served his disciples. He showed them how to be a servant to others.

Something else important about this passage is that Jesus even served Judas even though he knew that he was going to betray him. He knew what was to happen but he served Judas anyway. He coulve said this waters gross now itll just make your feet gross and not washed the feet of Judas. He also washed the feet of Peter who he knew would deny him 3 times by the time the rooster crowed. Jesus knew these things would happen but he didn’t let that stop him from modeling service. Not everyone is going to accept your service. Not everyone is going to understand your heart in serving them. Not everyone is going to accept Jesus. But in our serving others we plant the seed whether the seed blooms and grows or flourishes is not on us but on the person whom we serve and model Christ to.

3. Servant's Satisfaction: Blessings in Service

John 13:16–17 “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. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”

When we serve others we will be blessed. Even if we aren’t blessed in this existence we will be blessed by spending eternity with Jesus. That doesn't mean that we wont have blessings while were here because we will be blessed. I know that I am blessed. I shouldn't be where I am in life but God has provided me with everything that I need and then some. God has surely made it possible for me to live the life that I do.

When we serve and follow the example of Jesus we are submitting to our master. We are not over God. We must submit ourselves to his commandments. We must find ways to serve others everyday. What are some ways that you can implement serving those around you? Serving other’s can be something small. It doesn’t have to be something grand. It can be something like helping before someone asks for help. It could be something like donating food for a caned food drive. It could be something like praying for others.

We must look for ways to serve others and exemplify Christ in our daily lives. We must seek to further the kingdom daily. We have to implement these spiritual disciplines in our lives.

Following Christ takes discipline. It takes people serving each other and modeling our lives after Christ.