Christian Service

“For even I didn’t come to be served, but to serve others and give My life as a ransom for many.” - Mark 10:45

Zig Ziglar once told a story of going to Washington, DC and visiting the Washington Monument. As he approached the Monument there was a line that seemed to be a mile long. He walked up to the front to hear what the guide was saying, and the guide announced there would be a two-hour wait to ride the elevator to the top of the Monument. Then, with a smile on his face, the guide said, “There’s no one waiting to go to the top if you’re willing to take the stairs.”

Success in the Kingdom of God is far different than what it is here on planet Earth. In God’s Kingdom, there is no easy elevator to the top. To get to the top in God’s eyes you’ve got to take the stairs of service. In Mark 10:45 we see that the Lord of the universe – who could have rightfully demanded to be served – instead came to serve others. If this is true of Jesus, how much more so should it be true of His followers?

The more we know Jesus, the more we will want to serve others. And the more we serve others for the sake of Christ, the more we become like Jesus. As Christ followers, we should desire to show the love of Christ through service in the name of Christ. As we give our lives away, something strange happens…we gain more than we give away. There is nothing more fulfilling than living out the purpose for which we were made. And we were all made to love God and serve others.

Do you go through life expecting to be served, or looking for ways that you can serve others? The secret to greatness in the Kingdom of God is not how many servants you have, but what kind of servant you are.

Father, create a deeper desire in my heart to love and serve others in Your name. In Jesus’ name, amen.