Daily Encouragement

“Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves?  The one who sits at the table, of course.  But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.”  (Luke 22:27, New Living Translation)

The disciple of Jesus is a servant.

He or she is not a “servant-leader.” He or she is not an “apprentice-leader.”  He or she is not “doing time” as a servant until something opens up at the top of the hierarchy.  The pinnacle of a disciple’s aspiration is to be like his or her Lord; and the Lord Jesus is “among you as one who serves.”

This is so not like us.  We desire the perquisites that come with leadership; or we see leadership as a reward for being a “good foot soldier.”  But even leadership, in the estimation of our Lord, is nothing more than a greater opportunity for servitude; and “servitude” is to “service” as “being” is to “doing.”

Make servitude for the sake of being like Jesus your sole ambition as a disciple.  Even in the kingdom of God, good help is hard to find!  – Luther