Servant Nature

Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Good morning, Lord

Father in Heaven, I seek You first-Your peace-Your knowledge and discernment. Build my trust. I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name...

Verse of the Day: Luke 1:46-47 Mary's Song of Praise: The Magnificat

46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord,47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior".

Memory verse: Psalm 139:23–24 (ESV)

23  Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24  And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Today's reading:  Obadiah 1 Revelation 9

The Nature Of A Servant

We should call this advent season 'the season of the servant'.

Philippians 2:5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

First, we hear Paul echo what He wrote in 1 Corinthians 2:16 that we have the mind of Christ. He says, "Have this mind which is also yours in Christ Jesus..." This means, again, that this mind must be cultivated-it does not happen naturally-we must dig and pray and learn and obey.

Jesus did not use His 'equality with God' as a shroud of greatness and pride to oppress and control mankind which is what the Jews of that time and tradition expected-which He could have done.

He rejected the political power and took on the nature of a servant who was perfectly obedient to His Father in Heaven going to His very death on the cross for us.

He was born with all the power of His Heavenly Father --lived all His life as an obedient servant-a servant who, during His ministry, never even had a bed to call His own. He never sinned-that means even in His deepest thoughts when He was furious about sin in the Temple(Matthew 21:12-13,Mark 11:15-18). He was total love and compassion with complete wisdom-existing as a servant.

This is the season of the servant when we all are called back to being His simple, obedient servants.

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Your name is mightier than all names. Your kingdom is perfect. But, I need Your great bread of servanthood for my understanding. Forgive me for my reluctance to obedience. Lead me away from pride.

Holy , Holy god,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen