The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe
"Lord… Servant"
I recently read a short biography of a singer from many years ago who clearly believed himself to be a servant of those who enjoyed his art. He died at a very young age, but left a legacy of beautiful music. Even more, he left an example of understanding we exist not to be served, but to serve.
"By love, serve one another" (Galatians 5:13).
Another far greater example exists in human history, one that in fact inspires and empowers all true service to others.
"The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28).
The Creator and Lord of all things lived a life of service to His subjects. He reflected His Father's heart in so doing, and was led by the Holy Spirit, who Himself seeks not His own glory, but rather that of the Son.
"He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father… Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself… He shall glorify Me" (John 14:9; 16:13-14).
At the heart of the triune God glorious, majestic, almighty, and fearful in His righteousness and holiness, the disposition and attitude of a servant pervades all. Indeed, as did the Apostle John, we will fall before Him in awed reverence and veneration upon first beholding our Lord (Revelation 1:17). As with John, however, the Lord will tell us to "Fear not" with a voice that speaks of His humility no less than His majesty. The former will no less awe us than the latter, and eternity will involve our grateful service to the greatest and most lowly of all servants.
We do well to remember that the Christ who declared "I am meek and lowly in heart" also said, "He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father" (Matthew 11:29). Do we view God in this way? Even as we rightly fear Him, do we also rightly realize that our Savior's life of service that led to a cross of sacrifice shines with sublime light regarding the fullness of God's character? We will never fully know our Lord until this truth drives us to our faces in utter amazement regarding who He is in both majesty and meekness. We serve a Lord who possesses the heart of a servant. Both glories of His nature tell us who He is, and both tell us that we will never reach the end of our journey into the wondrous heart and mind of our God.
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge."
(Proverbs 1:7)
"Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that His hour was come that He should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end. And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside His garments; and took a towel, and girded Himself. After that He poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded."
(John 13:1-5)
Weekly Memory Verse
He is the Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are judgment, a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He.
(Deuteromomy 32:4)
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