The Servant of the LORD

Verse of the day: Deuteronomy 34:5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD

When the day of our appointed time arrives, how will we be remembered? Are we so busy trying to accomplish our own goals in our “service to God” that we are missing the mark of what it truly means to be a servant of the LORD? Far too often, we put our plans before God and ask Him to bless them, rather than go to God first and let Him lead us to accomplish what His plan is for our life and service to Him. Moses could have been remembered in many ways, and with many titles. However, at the end of his life God identified him as “the servant of the LORD”. I see a lot of people who want to serve God, but in reality are looking for notoriety and for others to serve them. A leader, whether a pastor, deacon, elder, teacher, or any other position within the body, should be willing to show up and mop the bathroom floor if they find that the toilet overflowed. If they are not willing to do that, but instead task someone else with that duty (because it is beneath them or their “position”), then they are not really in the local church to serve. Moses, although he was not perfect, and even had moments when God wanted to kill him (Exodus 4:24), was a man who did whatever God directed him to do, and was willing that God blot his name out of His book for the sake of God’s people (Exodus 32:32). With all the Israelites put Moses through, he remained faithful in serving God by serving them. A true servant of the LORD is one who is willing to serve others, even those who are ungrateful and even troublesome. Our greatest example of servanthood was our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. He said this in Mark 45:42-45, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” He not only said this to His disciples, but He also demonstrated it for them when He washed their feet, and ultimately gave His life at Calvary. The one thing that always stands out when Jesus washed the disciples’ feet in John 13 is that He also washed Judas’ feet; the disciple that He knew was going to betray Him. He did not wash all the others’ feet and skip Judas. He demonstrated what it truly means to be a servant of the LORD. What does our service to the Lord look like when we compare it to this? I would have to admit that in comparison, at times, my service is at best shameful. A servant of the Lord does not see any task or mission God sends him/her on to be beneath them. Any opportunity to serve someone else is an opportunity to glorify God and allow God to humble us so that no task becomes too menial to perform in our service to Him. If we seek to be known as a servant of the Lord at the end of our time here on earth, then we must model what Scripture tells us. Matthew 23:11, “But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.” Philippians 2:3-4, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” Let us put aside our attempts to make a name for ourselves within our Christian circles; instead, let us do all we can to glorify His Name. When all is said, and done, let God give us the title that is more valuable than any title we, or man, can ever give us that it may be said of us, “He/she was a true servant of the LORD.”

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).