This is the revelation that is shaping my life today – servanthood is the posture for sharing the God of love. Servanthood is me allowing myself to be reshaped into the life of the one I am serving. It’s not fixing, it’s walking alongside in their shoes. Love serves, and serving love reflects and reveals the God of love. People experience his love before they ask His name.
1 Corinthians 9:19-20 TPT
[19] Now, even though I am free from obligations to others, I joyfully make myself a servant to all in order to win as many converts as possible. [20] I became Jewish to the Jewish people in order to win them to the Messiah. I became like one under the law to gain the people who were stuck under the law, even though I myself am not under the law.
Observation
Scripture is clear, Jesus is clear, our posture towards others is “servant.” This posture is purposeful, it reflects our God who is love and it wins people to the God of love. Is the first question we ask when we meet people, ‘how can I posture myself to serve?’ I see too often the posture taken is one of judgement. Judgement never serves, it condemns, it never wins someone to love, while it might manipulate some to repentance. Paul invites us to serve by entering their space, walking in their shoes, comprehending life from their context, culture, pain, and place. “I became Jewish to the Jewish people in order to win them to the Messiah.” This is a long way from judging and finger pointing. Have we become so obsessed with upholding ‘our version of truth’ and being ‘right’ that we serve only our ends, making you agree with me? Have we become abusive lovers who demand something from you, “agreement” before we genuinely love?
Have we lost the “joy” of servanthood? Has this world with its focus on self made us blind to the beauty of sacrificial living for the sake of others? We get hurt so we retaliate, we see sin, so we judge, we disagree so we argue and seperate. “I joyfully make myself a servant to all,” when will we hear the call of Jesus, the call of Paul, when will we see our truest form of self, as servants of all?
And look at the prize, the outcome of servanthood. People meet the God of love. What outcome is of greater significance? The only posture that sees the outcome that every one who knows love desires, is found in servanthood. Servanthood that sacrifices self to walk in the shoes of others. “I become like…” this is servanthood, this is the way we reflect love that draws others to love. It’s a ‘life’ posture that I think we have lost to a degree in our being ‘right’ posture. Restore us God to servants of all.
Application
Make my first question to self when journeying with others, meeting others, how do I serve you with love? How do I walk in such close proximity that I feel what you feel, understand why you think what you think, know your story and how it shapes you. Servanthood is proximity to others story, entering others story. It’s only when I walk alongside can I share life in a way that invites engagement rather than reeks of judgement. Make me a servant, teach me the art of identification with others. Give me the posture of discovery, enquiry, curiosity, that I may understand the who I am walking the journey of love with, so I may in love represent love in a way that invites others into love’s embrace.
Response
Thank you for a life of serving rather than convincing. Thank you that you served me into your love, not coerced me into your love. Thank you that you walk with me in my shoes, inviting me into the intimacy of yours. I love this life with you and the life you invite me to reflect to others.
Meditation
Meditate – I joyfully make myself a servant to all.
Consider:
Rather than walking with judegment, to understand in love, how often do I judge others.
Do I honestly wrap around my waist and mind and response the towel of servant when I meet others?
JOURNEY DEEPER
