Category: Called to Serve

Re: Verse reading–John 13:1-17 (day four)

This was a turning point in Jesus’ ministry.  The timetable was drawing closer to the cross.  Jesus began a series of teaching aimed specifically at His disciples.  Being fully God, Jesus knew what lay ahead, both for Him and for His disciples.  He set out to prepare them to live out the Gospel.  These lessons were critical for the disciples to learn if they were to accurately and clearly present Jesus’ message to the world.  For Judas, this was a lesson in thinking of others instead of yourself…one last opportunity to repent of his selfish act of betrayal.  (He did not learn the lesson!)  For the rest, it was an act of love and a lesson on service to others.  To love is to serve.  Self-centeredness has no place in love.  Albert Schweitzer once said, “The only ones among you who will be truly happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.”  Are you seeking and have you found?

Re: Verse reading–John 13:1-17 (day three) 

“He…began to wash his disciples’ feet.”  Jesus did not perform this act of service as an object lesson in order to show his disciples how to serve, though it surely did accomplish that.  He did not do this in order to put them in a state of awe that their master would be so gracious as to stoop to such a lowly function, though it did strike them with wonder. But here’s why this event occurred the way it did: Jesus saw an opportunity to love them, and he took it. And then he told them: When you see a moment in which you can love one another, seize it.

Re: Verse reading–John 13:1-17 (day two) For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. vs. 15

Bus duty is the worst. In my 15 years in education I never met someone who was excited about bus duty. It takes you away from the classroom where you could be meeting with kids, grading, or really anything but bus duty. The mass of humanity that gathers at the beginning and end of every day is maddening, and you can imagine this is where trouble brews. Nobody volunteers for bus duty, nobody.

Larry was a two-time cancer survivor when I worked for him. It would eventually return and lead to his passing, but when I knew him it was a footnote to his journey. Every morning and every evening of every school day Larry would make sure that each bus arrived and departed on time and with every student. He watched over the masses of students who were waiting for their daily ride home. Monitoring them so they made good choices. Larry did this every day in his suit and tie rain or shine, hot or hotter, Larry was unswerving in his commitment.

Larry had other things to do. He was the head principal of the largest high school in the Northside Independent School district. His energies could certainly have been spent in other places. But everyday Larry sent a clear message to his staff. Larry was there to serve. Those duties that we avoided, he was the first to sign up. He demonstrated leadership by his service, and ultimately service by his leadership.

As a result of his sacrifices teachers across the board were willing to go to the mat for Larry or any of his initiatives. He loved students. He loved teachers. We wanted to please him, and in so doing we wanted to serve. I am so blessed that I had the opportunity to work for a man like Larry Martin. He showed me how to serve well.

Re: Verse reading–John 13:1-17 (day one)  “For I have set for you an example”–v 15.

Do you remember your preschool years?  Learning to write?  To handle pencil and paper? Do you remember the teacher putting a translucent piece of paper down on a bolder, darker letter and asking you to TRACE IT?

In John 13, Jesus uses a similar word.  Usually translated “example” the Greek word is a combination of “to show” (deigma) and “under” (hupo).  It literally was to put an image down and ask the student to copy it.

Is this a realistic standard?  Will it work for us in 2017?  Can moderns actually imitate Christ, copy His choices and attitudes?  Jesus is confident that the answer is Yes!   “If you do this, you will be blessed” says v 17.

The secret to life is not to find myself but to mimic Christ.   The secret to being me is becoming like Him.  WWJD?  ITIWTI! (I think I will try it)

Re: Verse reading–Isaiah 52:13-15, Isaiah 53 (day seven) “Behold, my servant will prosper”–52:13.  It is a truth that can be misused.  Often is.  Even so, it is hard to deny God’s promise to PROSPER those who serve Him.

“This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way PROSPEROUS, and then you will have SUCCESS.”–Joshua 1:8 “Those who honor Me, I WILL HONOR”–1 Samuel 2:30.

As we resist the attempt to equate prosperity promised with material wealth (and we must), we must also resist the attempt to remove it from our expectations.  “We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”  shouts the New Testament (Romans 8:38)

Friend, do you believe that God will PROSPER you ( peace, power,  spiritual progress and eternal reward) as you surrender to Him?

Re: Verse reading–Isaiah 52:13-15, Isaiah 53 (day four)

Appearances are not always as they seem.  The Messiah appeared despised and forsaken.  He looked to be stricken and smitten of God.  But He was high and lifted up.  He was greatly exalted.  Jesus was the only substitute for us…the only one acceptable to God to take on the sins of the world and atone for them.

“God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  (1 Samuel 16:7)  God sees beyond the circumstances and sees His perfect will.  Often we get bogged down in the circumstances of life.  Jesus was able to remain faithful and obedient to God through all of the persecution, torture and death, because He did not lose sight of His call.  Don’t allow the circumstances of your life to distract you from the work that God has called you to do.  Isaiah identified the Messiah as a suffering servant.  To be a servant, keep your eyes and heart on your call.                                                                                      

Re: Verse reading–Isaiah 52:13-15, Isaiah 53 (day three)

“He was numbered with the transgressors.”  First, consider humanity’s rogues gallery—those unsavory individuals who represent all that’s wrong with the human race: History’s most notorious megalomaniacs make the list, plus domestic terrorists, plus all murderers, predators, thieves, thugs, and general riff-raff.  But surely the world owes its difficulties to more than state-recognized criminals.  Have you been on the receiving end of a lie?  Have you cheated on your spouse?  Have you used a friendship to further your own social position?  We’re all rogues now.  And if you look closely at that list, you’ll see a shocking face: that of Jesus Christ, counted among the sinners.  Now consider: The King of kings willingly became the rogue of rogues, taking the blame for the sin of mankind.  And now all of us must answer for this innocent man’s execution.  What will you say?

Re: Verse reading–Isaiah 52:13-53:12 (day two) He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth…53:7a

He kept quiet. Our first reaction when we see injustice is to shout, rage against the machine, cry out for right. Jesus kept silent. Does this mean that we are to sit idly by and watch people endure cruelty or oppression? Certainly not, but Jesus had the long game in mind as he endured his affliction. If he would have called out or spoken up what would that have meant for me or you? His refusal to defend himself sealed our opportunity for salvation. If, when you witness injustice, you are filled with a righteous indignation stop and think of what Christ endured and how he allowed it to take place. For you.

Re: Verse reading–Nehemiah 6:1-16 (day seven) “They were all trying to frighten us.”–v 9.

It is a familiar strategy.  Our enemy (Satan) uses it against us (Christians) with great regularity.  Step 1–Create fear (cancer, job loss, abandonment, a new pastor. . .you fill in the blank).  Step 2–Seep this fear into the center of the heart (where faith belongs).  Step 3–Allow/encourage decisions to be made, attitudes to be set from this anxious heart.  Step 4–Dismiss all protests against such action as “I am just being realistic”.  Step 5–Rest satisfied (Satan does) that no power or progress will come to this neutralized-by-fear-life. No progress.  Just constant positioning against the thing feared.

Nehemiah knew. “Whatever is not from faith is sin”–Romans 14:23.