“Then the devil took Him up and revealed to Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. ‘I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,’ the devil said, ‘because they are mine to give to anyone I please. I will give it all to you if you will worship me.’ Jesus replied, ‘The Scriptures say, “You must worship the Lord your God and serve only Him.”’” (Luke 4:5-8 NLT)
There are three primary reasons we serve as a Jesus follower.
First, it was an example Jesus set for us as He began His earthly ministry. There are at least three words in the Greek language that are translated “serve” or “servant” in the New Testament. One is “douleuo dool-yoo’-o” which is used often in reference to those in bondage or who are slaves. That’s the word that is commonly used in Paul’s writings.
The second word is “diakoneo dee-ak-on-eh’-o.” This is often translated “minister” or “ministry” and is probably more closely akin to our understanding of a servant. The third word, which is the word used in the verses above, is the word “latreuo lat-ryoo’-o” and can also be translated servant or minister but can also refer to those who do the most menial tasks, those things most people would be hesitant to do if they could possibly avoid them.
What’s our takeaway? Jesus knew before He was ever born in a manger in Bethlehem that He would die on a cross, the most savage, indecent, and painful way a person could die in that time. Yet, He didn’t hesitate to take the assignment. But why? Because there was no other way and no other person who could have had the credentials that would qualify them to make that sacrifice. What’s my point?
He was God in human flesh. He literally spoke the world into existence. He was the last person who should have been on the cross; the least of all persons who have ever existed or ever will exist who deserved to be on that cross, yet He willingly submitted Himself because that was God’s plan and He was the only One who could have carried it out.
The second reason we serve is because God gives us the privilege to serve, to be His menial slave, to participate in what He’s doing whatever that may look like, not as a duty, but as an honor we carry out to glorify Him and seek to make Him known. We don’t have the capacity to understand fully what Satan was offering Jesus. We only get glimpses, which ironically, are all it usually takes for us to turn from God. But the Lord Jesus didn’t flinch when He saw the glories of sin and evil, because He’d come from heaven, and He knew firsthand that nothing Satan or this world can offer can compare to the riches of heaven.
The third reason we serve the Lord Jesus is because it offers us the opportunity to serve exclusively. What does that mean? It means in much the same way as Jesus sacrificed Himself for the needs of others, we can serve Him without any expectation of receiving anything for ourselves in return. We don’t serve to get anything! We serve to give everything! But why? Because that’s what Jesus did.
If you’re trying to gain anything for yourself through your service, you’re wasting your time and squandering opportunity. Jesus said of Himself that He came to serve, not to be served. Our salvation has been secured for us by Jesus, there’s nothing we could ever do, even in all of eternity, that would enable us to earn or deserve what Jesus did on our behalf. We receive what He offers us – eternal life and an eternal home in heaven – by faith alone in Christ alone. Everything we give, including our very lives, is only an effort on our part to show our appreciation for all He’s already done. That’s why I serve, how about you?
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 