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“Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” Jn 13:8 NIV
WHAT IT MEANS TO SERVE (1)

Jesus “took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist…poured water
into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was
wrapped round him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to
wash my feet?’…Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no part with me’…When
he had finished…he put on his clothes and returned to his place. ‘Do you understand
what I have done for you?’ he asked them…I have set you an example that you should
do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master’”
(vv. 4-16 NIV). Observe two things Jesus taught: (1) In order to serve God, you must serve
others. When Peter objected, Jesus said, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
To play your part in God’s plan you must put others first. What you’re doing right now may
enrich you personally, but are you serving others and pleasing God? (2) When it comes to
serving, nothing should be beneath you. Can you picture it? Jesus, who was God, stooping
to wash the lowest, dirtiest and smelliest part of the body. Keep that picture firmly in
mind next time you’re asked to do something you don’t want to do, or something you
think is “beneath you.” Christ saw so much value in the least, the lost, the last and the
lowest, that He came to redeem them. And today He wants us to go out of our way to
serve one another.

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” Php 2:5 NIV
WHAT IT MEANS TO SERVE (2)

Paul wrote: “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very
nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made
himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant” (vv.5-7 NIV). In order to serve God
you must focus on others rather than yourself. Much of what we do is self-serving. We
serve to be admired, or to achieve our own goals. Some of what we do is more manipulation
than ministry. We’re really thinking about ourselves and how noble and wonderful
we are. We even use serving as a bargaining tool: “God, I’ll do this for you if you’ll do that
for me.” No, true servants don’t use God for their purposes, they let God use them for His.
God is always more interested in your attitude than your achievements. King Amaziah
lost God’s favor because “He did what was right in the sight of the Lord, yet not with a true
heart” (2Ch 25:2 NRS). Self-forgetfulness is a daily struggle, a lesson we must learn over
and over. You can measure your servant’s heart by how you respond when others treat you
like a servant. How do you react when you feel taken for granted, bossed around, or
treated as an inferior? Jesus said, “If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the
occasion to practice the servant life” (Mt 5:41 TM). You say, “It’s not fair. I keep giving to
this person but they never give back.” Just keep serving, knowing “the Lord will reward
everyone for whatever good he does” (Eph 6:8 NIV).

“Serve the Lord with gladness.” Ps 100:2
WHAT IT MEANS TO SERVE (3)

Paul writes: “When people commend themselves, it doesn’t count for much. The important
thing is for the Lord to commend them” (2Co 10:18 NLT). If your self-worth is
based on anything other than God’s approval, you won’t serve with the right motives.
Insecure people worry about how they’ll be perceived by others. They hide their weaknesses
beneath layers of protective pride. The more insecure you are, the more you need
people to serve you, and the more you work for their acceptance. One Bible scholar writes:
“In order to be of service to others we must die to them; that is, we have to give up measuring
our meaning and value by the yardstick of others…Thus we become free to be
compassionate.” Your service should not be based on the response of those you are
serving, but on obedience to God alone. True servants of God don’t insist on having lofty
titles. If their job description calls for it, they wear that badge with humility. Paul, the
greatest of the apostles, wrote: “You may brag about yourself, but the only approval that
counts is the Lord’s approval” (v. 18 CEV). If anybody had a chance to name-drop, it was
James the half brother of Jesus. What credentials; imagine growing up with Jesus as your
brother! Yet he simply referred to himself in Scripture as “a servant of God and of the Lord
Jesus Christ” (Jas 1:1). Your service to Christ should be both your job and your joy: “Serve
the Lord with gladness.” Can you imagine what would be accomplished if we all got serious
about our role as servants—and did it joyfully?

“What the law was powerless to do…God did by sending his own Son.”
Ro 8:3 NIV
SALVATION

The Bible says: “A certain ruler asked Him, saying, ‘Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit
eternal life?’ So Jesus said…‘Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’ But when he heard this, he became
very sorrowful, for he was very rich” (Lk 18:18-23 NKJV). This man had already
achieved the three P’s of success: power, prosperity, and prestige. He was a bottom-line
guy: “What must I do?” Even the way he worded the question suggests he thought he could
get eternal life the way he’d gotten everything else—by self-effort. He mistakenly assumed
that heaven was just a payment away, but it’s not. Only a cold-hearted God would sell salvation
to those who can afford it. That’s a hard concept to grasp since we’re rewarded for
our performance. But just as you wouldn’t impress Picasso with your crayon sketch, so
your character and good works don’t qualify you for heaven. Eternal life costs more than
you can afford. That’s why you don’t need a résumé, you need a redeemer. Money wasn’t
this man’s problem, self-sufficiency was. It wasn’t his income that kept him out of God’s
kingdom, but his ego. And it’s not just the wealthy that have difficulty grasping this; so do
the educated, the strong, the good-looking, the popular, and even the religious. To receive
salvation you must first acknowledge that you’re spiritually bankrupt, your cupboard bare
and your reputation worthless. You can’t approach God demanding justice—you can only
come pleading for mercy. And if you come today, that’s what you’ll get!

“Faith without deeds is dead.” Jas 2:26 NIV
WEIGH YOURSELF ON THESE SCALES!

One day a man trying to lose weight stepped on the bathroom scales. His wife asked,
“How are you doing?” He replied, “Okay, just one problem; according to these scales
I ought to be eight inches taller.” When it comes to demonstrating true discipleship, James
puts us all on the scales: (1) When it comes to feeding the hungry: “Suppose you see a
brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, ‘Good-bye and have a good
day; stay warm and eat well’—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing.
What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good
deeds, it is…useless” (vv.15-17 NLT). (2) When it comes to loving people and treating them
with respect: “Suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive
jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you give
special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, ‘You can
stand over there, or else sit on the floor’—well, doesn’t this discrimination show that your
judgments are guided by evil motives?” (vv. 2-4 NLT). (3) When it comes to caring for the
needy: “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans
and widows in their distress” (Jas1:27 NLT). Get your doctrine out of the deep freeze! Take
your theology off the drawing board and start using it in a practical way. Come on—weigh
yourself on these scales.

“I chose you…to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.” Jn 15:16 NIV
BEARING FRUIT

Before leaving this world Jesus took His disciples aside to prepare them for the problems
they would face after He was gone: “I am the vine; you are the branches…
apart from me you can do nothing…I chose you…to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last”
(vv.5,16 NIV). Here Jesus teaches us two important things: (1) You only discover who you
are, in relationship to Christ. “Apart from me you can do nothing.” When you forget that,
you end up trying to do things only God can do, like solving your problems your own
way, or promoting yourself through clever strategies. You’re not blessed in any endeavor
because of your performance; you’re blessed because of your connection to Christ. Unless
you understand that, you’ll waste your time chasing people who have no more power
than you do. Your strength and success are in Christ, the Vine, so stay connected! (2) Before
you get the fruit that remains, you lose the fruit that’s temporary. “He cuts off every branch
that…bears no fruit” (v. 2 NIV). You can be a good branch, connected to a good vine, bearing
good fruit, and suddenly God starts cutting back certain things in your life. Things you
thought would always be there are taken away; now it feels like you’re going backwards.
It takes faith to believe that God would permit you to lose what you’re proud of, and what
you draw your security from in order to give you something better—fruit that lasts, enduring
success. So, difficult though it may be, let it go. God has something better in mind
for you.

“God…will fulfill his purpose for [you].” Ps 57:2 NLT
WAIT AND YOU’LL EXPERIENCE GOD’S BEST

If you’ve been praying for God to send you the right partner, or for a better job, or to
change the heart of a rebellious kid, remember, whether He changes the situation or
changes you, He “will fulfill his purpose for [you].” God sees the big picture, and He loves
you so much that He works out “all things for good in your life” (See Ro 8:28). One author
writes: “It’s hard to make sense of life’s challenges when you’re in the middle…you’re too
tired, your perspective’s limited…you don’t have the strength or vision to do this on your
own…‘Trust the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding’
(Pr 3:5 GWT) means letting go of floundering attempts to manipulate people, circumstances,
or timing…and returning the reins to the One who knows the way. Think about
it; if you knew what you were doing, would you be in this mess? We talk about waiting
on God. But He also waits on us…until we’re ready to receive…until we appreciate what
we’re asking for…until we’ve made sufficient preparations in our heart…until we’re free
from resentment and discontent…until our maturity level is appropriate and our understanding
elevated…Sometimes He waits until we think He’s forgotten us just to test and
grow our faith…Remember, ‘With the Lord a day is like a thousand years’ (2Pe 3:8 NIV).
Eternity is His backdrop…and He can solve a problem in a minute, or in two generations.”
Isaiah says, “The Lord longs to be gracious to you…Blessed are all who wait for him!”
(Isa 30:18 NIV). Wait! Don’t get ahead of God and you’ll experience His best.

“Are you in health, my brother?” 2Sa 20:9 NKJV
VITAMINS FOR SPIRITUAL HEALTH (1)

The principles of God’s Word work like spiritual vitamins. For the next few days let’s look
at some: Never excuse in yourself what you accuse in others. King David did that. In confronting
him over his sin with Bathsheba, Nathan the prophet told David a story about
two men. One had many cattle; the other had only one lamb. When a guest came to the
rich man’s house for dinner, he took the poor man’s lamb. “David’s anger was greatly
aroused against the man, and he said…‘the man who has done this shall surely die! And
he shall restore fourfold for the lamb…because he had no pity.’ Then Nathan said to
David, ‘You are the man!’” (2Sa12:5-7 NKJV). Nathan continued: “Thus says the Lord God
of Israel…I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives…And if that had been
too little, I also would have given you much more!…You have killed Uriah [Bathsheba’s
husband]…with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife…Now therefore, the
sword shall never depart from your house’” (vv. 7-10 NKJV). David didn’t know it, but he
pronounced his punishment with his own lips: “He shall restore fourfold.” And David did.
First, the child he fathered with Bathsheba died. Second, his son raped his daughter, and
he didn’t have the moral authority to deal with it. Third, Absalom, the beloved son destined
to inherit his throne, fomented war and died at the hands of his own people. Fourth,
civil war broke out in Israel and thousands of people died as a result. The lesson is clear:
never accuse in another what you excuse in yourself.

“Are you in health, my brother?” 2Sa 20:9 NKJV
VITAMINS FOR SPIRITUAL HEALTH (2)

Never take God for granted. Don’t become overly familiar with spiritual things. Samson
did that and he paid dearly. After discovering the secret of his strength: “[Delilah]
lulled him to sleep on her knees, and called for a man and had him shave off the seven
locks of his head…and his strength left him. And she said, ‘The Philistines are upon you,
Samson!’ So he awoke from his sleep, and said, ‘I will go out as before, at other times, and
shake myself free!’ But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him. Then the
Philistines took him” (Jdg 16:19-21 NKJV). It’s a story of tragedy. Samson was born to lead
Israel to victory. But instead he gave in to his lowest impulses, consorted with the enemy
and thought he could get away with it. Listen to him: “I will go out as before, at other
times.” But this was one time too many. His disobedience hadn’t robbed him of his supernatural
strength before, but it did this time. He crossed a line and ended up losing his sight,
his strength, his liberty, his credibility, and his usefulness. Eventually he died a prisoner of
the Philistines. You say, “Today’s devotion sounds a bit harsh.” No, it’s protective! The Bible
says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Pr 9:10). When you persist in disobeying
what you know God has told you to do and think you can escape the consequences,
you’re headed for trouble. Repent, get right with God and get back on track while
you still can.

“Are you in health, my brother?” 2Sa 20:9 NKJV
VITAMINS FOR SPIRITUAL HEALTH (3)

Never allow life’s disappointments to make you cynical. If you live long enough people
will disappoint you, including your family. Even spiritual leaders will let you down!
Paul wrote: “We wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered
us” (1Th 2:18 NKJV). Did you think Satan was going to send you a congratulatory telegram
because you decided to serve the Lord? Not a chance! The walk of faith is one of delight—
and difficulty. When you signed on for the first, you signed on for the second. Paul was
on a sixteen-month missionary journey—one of miracles and church building. But he
ended up in prison on trumped-up charges and was left to rot there. How did he respond?
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Php 4:4 NKJV). You say, “How can
somebody rejoice in prison?” When you see your disappointment as God’s appointment,
you start to understand its purpose. Paul had books to write that would change the world,
so God needed to get him “off the road.” Listen to what he wrote from prison: “I want you
to know…that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good
News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because
of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained
confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear” (Php 1:12-14 NLT). Hidden in
some of your biggest disappointments, you will find treasures of truth that literally transform
your life and your future.

“Are you in health, my brother?” 2Sa 20:9 NKJV
VITAMINS FOR SPIRITUAL HEALTH (4)

Never forget the law of sowing and reaping. God set in motion certain laws and they
never change. One is the law of gravity. Another is the law of sowing and reaping.
“While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest…shall not cease” (Ge 8:22 NKJV). This law
works both negatively and positively. If you sow good things you will reap good things; if
you sow bad things you will reap bad things. Consider parenting. Eli the high priest was
not only called to be a role model to the nation, but also to his two sons. Now, he may
have been a great success in ministry but he failed badly on the home front. His sons, who
were also priests, enriched themselves by taking bribes. They even slept with women in
the temple courts. Pretty shocking, eh? So what did God say? “I will judge his house…for
the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not
restrain them” (1Sa 3:13 NKJV). As a result Eli’s sons were killed at the hands of their
enemies, and when the news of it reached Eli he dropped dead. That’s the harvest law
working negatively. But thank God it also works positively. Paul writes about it: “Knowing
that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord” (Eph 6:7 NKJV).
You say, “What does that mean?” It means that whatever good you make happen for
others, God will make happen for you. So whether it’s a smile, a prayer, a gift or a helping
hand, start sowing good seeds and you will reap harvests of blessing.

“Are you in health, my brother?” 2Sa 20:9 NKJV
VITAMINS FOR SPIRITUAL HEALTH (5)

Never withhold because times are hard. The Bible teaches that those who set their mind
on “getting” always lose, whereas those who set their mind on “giving” always win.
The story’s told of a dog walking across a bridge with a bone in his mouth. When he
looked down into the river and saw his reflection, he thought it was another dog with a
bigger bone. So he jumped in to get it—and drowned. Paul dedicates two entire chapters
in the Bible to the subject of money. Perhaps that’s a good answer to those who say, “All
the church ever talks about is money.” Since money is congealed sweat, coined time,
coined talent, negotiable you, it’s one way in which you can give yourself to God. It’s not
the only way, but it’s a very important way. So Paul writes: “Remember this—a farmer who
plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get
a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give
reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully. And
God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need
and plenty left over to share with others…Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that
you can always be generous” (2Co 9:6-11 NLT). Unless you practice generosity there’s no
point asking God for more money. He doesn’t pour His blessing into pots, but into pipes;
not into reservoirs, but into rivers that let it flow out. Getting the idea?

“Are you in health, my brother?” 2Sa 20:9 NKJV
VITAMINS FOR SPIRITUAL HEALTH (6)

Never forget, you’re not home yet. The story’s told of an old steamship that pulled into
Southampton harbor and the passengers got off. Helium-filled balloons rose into
the air and the crowd went wild as a young Hollywood starlet walked down the gangplank
to be greeted by her family and friends. The last person off the ship was an elderly
man who had spent more than fifty years of his life as a missionary in India. All his
earthly possessions were in a tattered suitcase he carried by his side. After getting to his
room in a cheap boarding house, he knelt by his bed and prayed: “Lord, I’ve served you
all my life. I’ve sacrificed everything to tell others the good news of the gospel and brought
many to you. Yet there was no one to celebrate my arrival or welcome me home.” As he
knelt there the voice of God spoke to him softly and said, “Son, you’re not home yet!” And
redeemed child of God, neither are you! If God has blessed you with a nice house, thank
Him and enjoy it. But don’t get too settled. At best, it’s only temporary accommodation.
Paul thought often of heaven: “For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire
to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is
more needful for you” (Php1:23-24 NKJV). God has something “far better” in mind for you.
A great preacher once said: “It is our main business in this world, to secure an interest in
the next one.”

“I will…tell you…things you do not know.” Jer 33:3 NIV
HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS OF GOD

In tough times we’ve a tendency to lower our expectations. As a result we end up settling
for less than God wants. The Bible asks, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Ge18:14
NKJV). Now it’s easy to answer, “No!” But what you do next proves whether or not you
actually believe that. Jesus said: “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do
them” (Jn 13:17 NKJV). To walk in God’s blessing every day you must do what He tells
you. And He may tell you to do something different! The problem is, we get attached to
methods which worked in the past and keep going back to them. But by always looking
to the familiar, you limit God. He’s much greater than any proven method, and He’s never
predictable. His Word says, “Call to me and I will…tell you…things you do not know.” The
Living Bible says, “I will tell you some remarkable secrets about what is going to happen.”
What an offer! When God decided that Moses would lead the children of Israel out of
Egypt, Moses never questioned God’s ability, he just questioned whether God could do it
through him.What was God’s answer when Moses complained that he wasn’t an articulate
speaker? “Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say” (Ex 4:12 NIV). God
is neither enhanced by your strengths nor inhibited by your struggles. There’s more He
wants to do through you than what you’ve experienced so far. So have high expectations
of God and respond in faith to whatever He tells you.

“Remember those…who are mistreated.” Heb 13:3 NIV
PRAY FOR CHRISTIANS UNDER ATTACK

Do you ever pray for persecuted Christians in other countries? You should, because
they are your spiritual family. John writes: “I saw…those who had been slain because
of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained” (Rev 6:9 NIV). Increasingly,
believers around the world are giving their lives for the cause of Christ and the testimony
they’ve maintained in the face of hostility. “Are you trying to make me feel bad?” you ask.
No, just: (1) More prayerful. “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners,
and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” Next time you
hit your thumb with a hammer and your whole body aches, remember this truth and pray
for the great big worldwide body of believers, many of whom are still being mistreated,
imprisoned, tortured, and even killed in Christ’s name. (2) More grateful. You say, “Grateful
for what?” That your faith is so effective that you’re on Satan’s hit list; that he considers
you a threat to his kingdom and his agenda in the earth. (3) More faithful. Richard Wurmbrand,
who wrote Tortured For Christ, said, “What a person really believes is not what he
says in his creeds, but what he’s willing to die for.” Now, the odds are that you will never
be called upon to die for Jesus. But the question is, if you’re not willing to die for Him, what
are the chances you’ll really live for Him? Before you can answer that question you must
ask yourself, “How much of my time, my treasure and my talents am I investing into His
kingdom?”