Power Filled Positive Thinking—Chapter 12 C—
Living our lives with a servant’s spirit or with the heart of a servant is not what natural man desires. Our hearts tend to desire self-exaltation rather than to bow down to serve others. Often, our acts of random kindness are laden with a self-centered desire to have others praise us or love us in return which turns our acts of service into self-exalting acts rather than acts of a servant’s heart.
original photo courtesy of Jim Peregoy
Christ came to serve and throughout his ministry he did that through teaching, giving, healing, loving and listening. Ultimately, he took upon His shoulders all my sin. As we grow in our relationship with God, our hearts grow deeper in love with our Savior. As we seek to know Him more, we become more awed by the magnificent beauty of His humble, servant’s heart of love toward us.
In response, our hearts grow; much like the Grinch whose “heart grew three times that day as He saw the outpouring of grace, love and joy that the people of who Ville had in the midst of loss.”
In the Bible, God gave us many examples of “servants of God.” Certainly the apostles, Peter, Paul, James and John all referred to themselves as servants. In fact, they called themselves bond-slaves which were the lowliest of the servants in their day. They were “bond slaves” of Christ and His ministry. We need only look at the lives of David, Daniel and of Joseph to see three Old Testament men who set examples of servitude which God fully honored and exalted; yet, they remained with hearts of humble servitude toward God. You may ask me why I included David since he did stumble and fall down along the way; where, Daniel and Joseph we are not told of their “failures in faith”. Precisely why I included David—remember even the heart of loving servitude is an act of Grace by an almighty God who has shown His light into our darkened hearts that we might see Him as one to be desired. He step by step grows our capacity to love Him and then to love others with a Christ like love. Look at how God describes David, “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will” Acts 13:22
Love must lead the way toward a life of humble service to God and thereby to those of whom we are called to serve. At first, that may seem easy to learn as we serve those nearest and dearest to our hearts; but, what about those who create havoc or conflict? How do we serve them in humility and love? How does a servant’s heart transform our response when the going gets tough at work or home? Can we learn to respond as David, Daniel and Joseph when we are forced into caves or feel imprisoned by our circumstances? What steps can we take to allow us to have a servant’s heart when the going gets tough?
1. Remember whom it is that you are serving. One major step is to keep your eyes upon Jesus, the suffering servant now risen in fullness of Glory. As you see Him and all that He has done for you, your heart grows in its love for Him. Your desire to serve Him, Seek Him, Savor His presence and to love Him with all your heart will cause your heart’s capacity to love grow. You must not lose focus who it is that you are serving. “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds” (Hebrews 12:1-3)
2. Remember who will be the one who has promised you a place of honor beside Christ; because of His grace, mercy and love. “26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour” (John 12).
3. Remember who is there to sustain you when the going gets tough by filling you with His love. “10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister” (Hebrews 6).
4. Remember who has given you the perfect spiritual gift that you need to carry out the ministry He has called you to. “10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” I Peter 4. We will go into greater detail concerning the spiritual gifts in a later chapter; however, we are each given spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit which in the body of the believers work together to perform the ministry of the Lord.
5. Remember that as you begin to serve; however, small at first—you will experience spiritual growth and your hearts capacity to love and serve will grow. God will guide each step of the way. “for we are joined together by his strong sinews, and we grow only as we get our nourishment and strength from God” (Colossians 2:18 TLB)
6. Remember not to become an island only loving those who are nearest. Be ready at all times, it may be walking through a grocery store, or interacting with a clerk, or many divers places that God may place someone in your path that a simple smile may light up their day. “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:2).
7. Remember that one day with exuberant joy we shall serve Him for all eternity. This pilgrimage journey is merely a moment in comparison to our eternity with Him. As we learn to serve Him here, we will grow in our capacity to serve Him, love Him and revel in His Glory there. “3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever” Revelation 22
Keep your eyes upon Jesus, let His love lead the way and you will see that as a servant of the living God, you will find a life overflowing with love, joy, Grace and faith.
Listen to this hymn, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
Living Bible (TLB)
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
©2015 Effie Darlene Barba
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