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Still a Servant…

By December 19, 2019August 30th, 2022Devotional

We are getting close to the end of the year and for the last three years, I have been gradually reducing the work that I do with the thought that retirement is creeping up on me. I really don’t think that I am ready to give it all up yet but I made a commitment that I wouldn’t advertise or go out looking for more assignments. I strongly believe that I will get the business that I am supposed to have and when the time comes, I will enter full retirement with a smile on my face.

But, until then, I will look at projects that come my way – especially from those folks who already know me. Aside from many rather unusual things I do in the business, I have made it a practice to encourage each client to set their own rate with me; and, as odd as it seems, that way of doing things has served me well for more than twenty years. So now I find myself in the position of having two or three projects that have come my way in the last month or so. On another front, I had every intention of completing one group interaction and instead, I find myself excited at the prospect of doing some additional work in the coming year.

Furthermore, there are several other people who have asked to speak with me about assignments that I am also contemplating accepting. The truth of the matter is that it feels good to serve others by helping them grow their businesses. I also really appreciate my time in the ministry world – teaching, preaching and helping folks get to where God wired them to be. In fact, I have dedicated my life to fulfilling that role for the glory of God. And it’s important to know that ministry can be done at work – after all, we are to grow where we are uniquely gifted to serve.

Of course, the model of behavior for servant leadership came from Jesus Himself. Many people think that Jesus took human form and came to earth to judge the world. And while that may be the goal with the second coming of Jesus, the first time He came and walked among us was to serve others and to save the world.

It’s difficult to believe that the most powerful and remarkable man who ever lived would model servant leadership for us. But that’s exactly what He did. Jesus didn’t show up as a tyrant or ride in on a white horse. No, He came as a baby in a manger, whose birth we will celebrate on Christmas next Wednesday.

Our verse for tonight is from the Gospel of Mark. It is here that we find, in the words of Jesus Himself, the mission that He came to demonstrate to the rest of us. Mark tells us, in Mark 10:42-45, “Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

My encouragement this evening is that we have the perfect person to emulate in our work lives as well as our personal lives. Jesus is the best model of behavior we could ever have. My prayer is, just as Jesus did, we recognize that we are on a mission to serve – not to be served. And that is what makes part of life worth living. Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…

 

 

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