Service by Submission

The church is to be the loving, serving, humble body of Christ.

We must live submitted to the Father’s will.

And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?Luke 2:49

I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.John 5:30

For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.John 12:49

This requires a continual attitude adjustment.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.Romans 12:1-2

While our ministry is different from Jesus’, we can still have the same mindset and attitude.

We must live in humility.

Ignorance is a fertile breeding ground for pride.

Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.Matthew 20:20-22

Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?John 4:10-12

Humility comes by wisdom.

The incarnation of Jesus is the greatest act of humility ever known to man.

We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.Romans 15:1-3

We must live in submitted service.

We live in service to the King.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.John 13:16

We live in service to others.

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1

Jesus is the supreme example.

And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.1 John 2:3-6

Questions for Meditation

Am I living with eternity as my first priority?

Do I have any entanglements with worldly things that are holding me back?

Is there pride in my heart, either through ignorance or carnality?

Is my church a better place because of my love and service?

What are the characteristics that I see in the life of Jesus that I see in my own life?

What is my ministry?