“But which of you, having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down to eat’? “But will he not say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat, and properly clothe yourself and serve me while I eat and drink; and afterward you may eat and drink’? “He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he? “So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done” (NASB).
Have you ever been to a restaurant and had a horrible experience with the person waiting on you? Did it leave a bad taste in your mouth even though the food was delicious? Whether we want to say it or not, we are actually paying for the service and the food when we go out and eat. Often, we have high expectations on the waiters and waitresses, because we want to have an enjoyable experience with our friends and family. The best waiters always seem to be the one’s who have everything out on time, keep your drinks filled up, and are at your beckon call when it’s time to get the bill. They are the one’s who stay in the shadows, get very little recognition, and do a job well done. This is what they are supposed to do, which is their reasonable service…
Recently, I visited a local fast food restaurant and was observant as I approached the counter to order my lunch. The young lady behind the counter was yawning, and it seemed that she was about to fall asleep as she typed in our order. I felt sorry for her because she seemed to have been up all night or under the influence of some substance whether it was drugs or alcohol. As she yawned continuously and moved around slowly for a 16-17 year old, I noticed what impact she was having on the rest of the crew. The lady at the window was being patient and kind but needed help. She was calling out to the other employees and asking when the other co-workers were coming off of break. Everything seemed to be hindered by this young ladies choice the night before. Eventually, we got our meal and sat down with family to enjoy it. We were happy to have our food and it eased the experience, until we were ready to leave. As we walked out, the young lady was laying on the front sidewalk waiting for someone to pick her up.
Have you ever considered the service that you are giving to the Lord Jesus Christ? It is easy to consider Him Savior because He has delivered us from the penalty on sin, but it can be difficult calling Him Lord when we want to be the Master. We are trained in our society to be in control of everything in our lives. We are the master when we go to the restaurant, department store, grocery store and many other places, because we have the money which gives us the power. We also have many people who are climbing up the education ladder and obtaining Associates, Bachelors, Masters and doctorate degrees which also give people the power to use knowledge and obtain influence. Money and Education are valuable assets that we all need in order to survive, but that is not what brings greatness in the eyes of the Lord.
As Jesus’ disciples were walking on the road one day, they began discussing who was the greatest among themselves. Jesus knew what they were saying, and told them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all” (Mark 9:35b). We must realize that the Kingdom Life is totally different from what the world says. God desires His children to be servants who are ready at His Spirit’s call, awake to His Presence, actively serving where He plants you, and understanding that it’s your duty and privilege to serve the Lord with the life, talents, and energy that His grace supplies. You can’t work to be saved, because it is all by God’s grace, but you must work out your salvation with fear and trembling. The Hebrew writer reminds us, For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints” (Hebrews 6:10). With this in mind, how well are you waiting on Jesus Christ?
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