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Walking with Christ
by
Captain Gordon Goodridge (R)
Phil. 2:1-11 WALKING WITH CHRIST
WALKING AS A SERVANT
What is your definition of a true Christian servant? Are you
that person? And if you do not completely measure up to those
standards
– are you willing to?
Serving is one of the greatest challenges in the life of
discipleship. Everyone enjoys being served – but few make an
effort to serve others.
Some people don’t mind serving but resent being called one –
but they do also resent being treated like one! However the
mature Christian is marked by what he is willing to do for
others without expecting anything in return. No matter how he
is treated. Without a murmur.
The greatest example we have of a Christian Servant is Jesus –
Mark 10:45 – “For even the
Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister,
and to give his life a ransom for many.”
He showed this in many ways:
– Matthew9:35 – “And Jesus went about all the cities and
villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the
Gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every
disease among the people.” ALSO
- John 13:3-5: “Jesus knowing that the Father had given all
things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went
to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments;
and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth
water into a basin, and began to wash the disciple’s feet, and
to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.”
The Son of God became the servant of God on order to fulfill
the mission of God.
In Phil 2: verses 5-8 we have some very terrific thoughts to
ponder: - for instance –
verse 5 – “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ
Jesus.”
What position did Christ take in all this? Verse 7 – “But made
himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a
servant, and was made into the likeness of men.”
How did He demonstrate His servanthood?
Verse 8 – “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled
himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the
Cross.”
We often sing the chorus that refers to our hands – I lift
them up Lord, I lift them up – BUT –
how willing are we to have them soiled and filled with a
wandering child cold and hungry; with a running nose and
filthy clothing? With the vomit of an alcoholic that your
hands picked up from the gutter? Or hands covered in blood
from an unwed mother who attempted suicide
by slashing her wrists and aborting her child?
Lifting our hands in praise to God is wonderful – but is –
lifting our hands in service to God a different matter? God
help us if we think so!
A very practical application of what our serving God should be
all about is found in Phil 2:3,4 –
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in
lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than
themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every
man also on the things of others.”
Peter’s mother-in-law
CHRIST’S DESIRE FOR YOU:
Mark 1:31 – “And he came and took her by the hand and lifted
her up, and immediately the fever left her and she ministered
unto them.” After healing Peter’s mother-in-law – what was
her first response – to serve them – to prepare dinner for
them. And why did she do this – out of gratitude.
Taking this story as our example
– In what ways has Christ helped you? What has been your
response? She responded by serving - - -.
Jesus said: John 12:26
– “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am,
there shall my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my
Father honour.”
Two boys in a boarding school were assigned similar menial
duties, such as clearing the tables, mopping floors, and so
on. One of the boys was very unhappy at this type of work and
would skim through his duties very unsatisfactorily and skip
away to play. The other boy, observing this, would very
unobstusively put the finishing touches on his pal’s work, and
he kept it up for quite some time. Ultimately it was brought
to the attention of the faculty and they asked the diligent
boy why he was finishing up the other boy’s work. “Was it
because you
felt indebted to him in some way?” “No,” said the worker, “you
see, the Bible says that ‘whosoever will be great among you,
let him be your servant,’ and I want to be great, so I thought
I would try it the Lord’s way!”
Even Christ had his problems with his disciples – Luke 22:24 –
27 – Verse 24 - “And there was also a strife among them, which
of them should be accounted the greatest.” But how did Jesus
handle this touchy subject – Verse 27 – “For whether is
greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? Is he
not that sitteth at meat? But I am among you as he that
serveth.” Sure put them in their place didn’t he.
How should we, who profess to be Christ’s followers, conduct
outselves: - Verse 26 – “ But ye shall not be so; but he that
is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that
is chief, as he that doth serve.”
Friends may we understand one very important fact: -
Christians have been set free in Christ – not to do whatever
they please – but to be given the privilege to serve.
Believers have been set free from sin to serve righteousness
(Rom. 6:18,19) – Set free from satan to serve God (1 Pet.
2:16) – Set free from self to serve others (Gal 5:13).
Christians are no longer under obligation to serve the things
of the old life, but free to serve voluntarily the things of
the new life.
Free from the old
– now – free for the new.
Even Paul commented in this way
– 2 Cor. 4:5 – “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus
the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” And in
2 Cor.12:15 – “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for
you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be
loved.” Since Christ desires all Christians to serve others,
the believer must die to “self” (become as nothing) in order
to live for others.
KEYS TO BECOMING A SERVANT:
Being humble Jon 13:13,16
– “Ye call me Master and Lord; and ye say well, for so I am.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater
than his Lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that
sent him.” Luke 17:10 –
“So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things
which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we
have done that which was our duty to do.”
ANOTHER KEY
Observing and Meeting Needs of Others: Prov. 3:27
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in
the power of thine hand to do it.” Don’t put off until
tomorrow – what God has called you to do today!
1 John 3:17 – “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his
brother hath need and shutteth up his bowels of compassion
from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” Unless I am
moved with compassion how dwelleth the spirit in me!
Questions to ponder:
When was the last time you genuinely served another person
with no thought of yourself?
When was the last time that you failed to help someone
although you were aware of their need? And capable to help?
In your opinion – why did you serve one time and not the
other?
Luke 16:10
– “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also
in
much; and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in
much.”
2 Cor. 8:9
“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though
he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye
through his poverty might be rich.”
2 Cor 9:8 – “And God is able to make all grace abound unto
you; that ye, always having sufficiency in all things, may
abound to every good work.”
ROWBOAT 4 TIMES
CHRIST has set the example
– what are our rewards if we would dare to do the same? Luke
6:38 – “Give and it shall be given unto you; good measure,
pressed down and shaken together, and running over, shall men
give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete
withal it shall be measured to you again.” “But my God shall
supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by
Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:19)
Or – be stingy and you will be treated stingy.
2 Cor. 15:5
– “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your
own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ
is in you, except ye be reprobates?”
Martha in the kitchen, serving with her hands;
Occupied for Jesus, with her pots and pans.
Loving Him, yet fevered, burdened to the brim, -
Careful, troubled, occupied for Him.
Mary on the footstool, eyes upon her Lord;
Occupied with Jesus, drinking in His word.
This the one thing needful, all else strangely dim:
Loving, resting Mary, occupied with Him.
When it comes, we’re ready, spirit, will, and nerve;
Mary’s heart to worship, Martha’s hands to serve;
This is the rightful order, as our lamps we trim, -
Occupied with Jesus then occupied for Him!
The son of man became the servant of man in order to fulfill
the mission of God. Can you say – I became the servant of
Christ in order to fulfill the mission of Christ? Can we
afford not to – dare we even try? For even the Son of man came
not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom
for all.
Thou art worthy.
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