Saved to serve!

Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. (John 12, 26).

Servants follow the Lord: Whoever serves me must follow me…

The Lord Jesus plainly states that servants pursue the Lord! It is never the servant’s right to tell the master what he will do. To follow Christ is to be led by His Spirit; to make choices with His wisdom, to live for Him; to do what he would have us to do!

Servant in the New Testament usually represents the Greek doulos (bondslave). Sometimes it means diakonos (deacon or minister). This is correct, for doulos and diakonos are synonyms. Both words signify a man, who is not at his own disposal, but is his master’s purchased possession. We are bought to serve the Master’s needs.

What work does the Lord Jesus set His servants to do? The way that they serve Him, He tells them, is by becoming the slaves of their fellow-servants and being willing to do exactly anything, however costly or undignified, in order to help them.

Servants are found where Jesus is working … and where I am, my servant also will be.

My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working. (John 5, 17). For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Eph. 2, 10).

God is at work in our world! We can and will be involved in what He is doing. Ministry is not just for pastors or those who attended a Theological Seminary. If we wait or depend just on that group we will accomplish very little.

Servants will be honoured by God …My Father will honour the one who serves me.

When we serve the Lord with delight, excitement and enthusiasm we will be honoured by God. There is no earthly honour that can compete with that. Those who serve will be honoured by God.

The great violinist, Paganini willed his marvellous violin to the city of Genoa on condition that it must never be played. The wood of such an instrument, while used and handled, wears only slightly, but set aside, it begins to decay. Paganini’s lovely violin has today become worm-eaten and useless except as a relic. A Christian’s refusal to serve may soon tear down his ability for usefulness.

Servants follow the Lord! Servants are found where Jesus is working! Servants will be honoured by God!