LUKE 22:26 SUPERIOR SERVANTS

SUPERIOR SERVANTS

But this is not your calling.

You will lead by a different model.

The greatest one among you will live

as one called to serve others without honor.

The greatest honor and authority is reserved

for the one who has a servant heart.

Luke 22:26 (TPT)

Everything in our world tells us we must be first—valedictorian, most valuable player, chief executive officer, etc. We want to be “top dog,” the one in charge, the boss. There is nothing wrong with having positive goals. However, sometimes we end up with too many chiefs and not enough Indians. Or we have someone who scrambled to the top on the backs of coworkers. And when a person gains that top position, there is a real temptation to “lord it over” those on the lower rungs of the ladder. Yet all these are praised as over-achievers, hard workers, super sharp. Jesus turned this model on its head. When the disciples argued about who was the chief person in Jesus’s inner circle, He told them they were not to be like this world’s idea of leadership. He informed them that the true leaders in His family were to be the ones who willingly served their brothers and sisters. It is a love that sacrifices our wants to meet the needs of others. We are to aspire to be superior—the most excellent at serving others. You may still be the CEO of a company but seek ways to make the lives of your employees and your customers better and be a servant in your church and community. We often think of church leadership as the people on the platform, but the church is really built on the people visiting the sick, the needy, and those who desperately need Jesus. The beautiful thing about Jesus’s design is that a person can be both the one singing the soaring solo and working behind the scenes in other ways. We may never see the ways people serve, but Father sees and knows whether we operate from the place of a servant’s heart or only in our own interests. May we be superior servants.

Father, please keep us humble. Make us like Jesus who “took on Him the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:7b). May we seek to lead by the example of “Treat men exactly as you would like them to treat you” (Luke 6:31 Phillips). 

1 CORINTHIANS 11:23-26 A LOVING MEMORIAL

A LOVING MEMORIAL

For I have received of the Lord

that which also I delivered unto you,

that the Lord Jesus the same night

in which he was betrayed took bread:

And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you:

this do in remembrance of me.

After the same manner also he took the cup,

when he had supped, saying,

this cup is the new testament in my blood:

this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup,

ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Something we had not really noticed before in this passage was that the Lord Jesus personally gave Paul instructions regarding observing communion, or as we call it, “The Lord’s Supper.” Therefore, even though Paul was not present on the night Judas betrayed Jesus, he knew exactly what had transpired around that table. Many scholars believe Paul wrote this description of Jesus’s last Passover meal with the twelve even before any of the gospel accounts were written. Why do we call this memorial meal “communion?” Susan breaks down the word as “come into union.” By reminding ourselves of the fact that Jesus our High Priest offered Himself as the final sacrificial, Passover Lamb, we are coming into union with Him. We are symbolically re-enacting the death of the Lord on our behalf. By sharing this meal with other believers, we are coming into union with each other as we corporately testify to the truth of God’s grace in providing Jesus to die in our place. Partaking of the Lord’s Supper is a solemn but joyful memorial. We solemnly reflect on the agony of our Lord as His body was nailed to the cross, and His blood flowed down from His nail-pierced hands and feet and His side pierced by the soldier’s spear. Then our sorrow turns to joy as we recall what happened on the third day—our Savior rose triumphantly from the grave having conquered sin and death!

Father, let us never forget all Jesus has done for us. Let us feel the pain we experienced when the realization of the cross and the agony of Jesus’s temporary separation from You was first made real to us. Let us eat the bread and drink the cup as a memorial to Your love and grace!

PROVERBS 24:16 YOU CAN'T KEEP A GOOD MAN (OR WOMAN) DOWN

YOU CAN’T KEEP A GOOD MAN

(OR WOMAN) DOWN

Don’t interfere with good people’s lives;

    don’t try to get the best of them.

No matter how many times you trip them up,

    God-loyal people don’t stay down long;

Soon they’re up on their feet,

    while the wicked end up flat on their faces.

Proverbs 24:16 (MSG)

Obviously, Satan didn’t heed this advice. We are writing this tonight while Susie is in a severe flare of an as-yet-undiagnosed problem which may be lupus. Meanwhile, Susan is having such severe spasms and the sensation of lightning bolts in her legs (remnants, as she calls them) that she periodically cries out to Jesus so loud Susie is afraid the neighbors will call the police to say she is being harmed. However, we are determined not to be held down by our trials. Just as our Lord reached into the waves to lift Peter up when his faith waned, we know our Jesus will enable and empower us to continue doing what He has called us to do. According to Paul’s inspired words in Philippians 4:13 (AMPC), Jesus literally infuses us with His strength. “I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].” Satan may stick his foot out to trip us, or we may just trip ourselves up by straying from the path Jesus has shown us to travel. However, our God does not expect us to pick ourselves up and dust off on our own. Like a loving Father walking beside His toddler, our God reaches down and lifts us up, gets us to our feet, and sets us back on the right path when we place our trust in Him. “And even though you trip up, you will not fall on your face because He holds you by the hand, (Psalm 37:24 VOICE).

Father, help us to live out the truth that You have shown us. Help us to fully rely on You and Your strength to help us faithfully carry on in the work to which You have called us no matter the circumstances or trials of each day. Thank You, Jesus, for holding our hands. 

2 CORINTHIANS 12:9 BECAUSE OF JESUS, WHEELS OF WEAKNESS BECOME WHEELS OF WONDER

BECAUSE OF JESUS,
WHEELS OF WEAKNESS

BECOME WHEELS OF WONDER

But he answered me,

“My grace is always 

more than enough for you,

and my power finds its full expression 

through your weakness.”

So I will celebrate my weaknesses, 

for when I’m weak I sense more deeply

the mighty power of Christ living in me.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (TPT)

Susie: When Susan and I first began developing the website for Precious Jewels Ministries, she was reluctant to be pictured showing her wheelchair. She was adamant that she was not a cerebral palsied minister but a minister who happened to have CP.

Susan: My tendency was always to hide or minimize my cerebral palsy for fear I would be set in a corner as “disabled” or written off as incapable. One of my mantras has always been “I have CP, but it doesn’t have me because I belong to Jesus and Jesus alone.” My other zinger was “We are not the sum of our challenges, but the sum of our spiritual gifts and talents from God.”

Susie: Those two statements are still very true about Susan. However, she has come to realize there is value in presenting herself complete with the limitations of her disabilities.

Susan: Allowing people to see me as I am with a multitude of limitations in my earth-suit exalts the power of Christ who enables me to overcome. Therefore, I will gladly be photographed in my bold, pink power chair and even allowed my pastor to video me sharing a testimony from my bed about tithing and giving.

Susie: Susan, like the Apostle Paul, has learned to boast in or celebrate her weaknesses so that people may see the grace and glory of God working through her life.

Father, remind us that Your power shines through our weaknesses. Help us always to point to Your grace and glory rather than our own strengths.