THE SERVANT PRIEST

Time with Jesus - Saturday, 02 February 2013

Hi all,

I often wonder to myself why we sing choruses we don’t believe and certainly don’t obey. We need to “clean up our transparencies”. For example, “Reach out and touch the Lord as He passes by.” But He is always with us so how can He pass us by? The one I have in mind is, “If you want to be great in God’s Kingdom, you must be the servant of all.” We usually sing it with great gusto. Sadly, we don’t mean it and have no intention of doing it! “I want to be greater than ……….….. we say. God’s comment to this is, “Find him and become his slave!” That’s exactly what Jesus did. Another way to put it is to say, you will be ready for “promotion” above Fred Blogs when you are ready to spend your entire day working for Fred Blogs and keeping his toilet clean! You don’t like that? No problem. But you will never be greater in God’s Kingdom than Fred Blogs, until you become his slave! It works like that. The way up is always down. That’s today’s meditation.

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland 

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Saturday, 02 February 2013			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
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INTRODUCTION			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	The Servant Priest
We all know that Jesus Christ is our Prophet, Priest and King. We also know that He came here as a servant. We are mostly familiar with the chorus, “The Servant King” by Graham Kendrick. If you ask any Christian, they will tell you that we are supposed to be like Jesus. We are supposed to serve one another and see others as better than ourselves. Mark puts it as follows: - 42 Jesus called the apostles and said, "You know that the acknowledged rulers of nations have absolute power over people and their officials have absolute authority over people. 43 But that's not the way it's going to be among you. Whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant. 44 Whoever wants to be most important among you will be a slave for everyone. Mark 10:42-44 GW For the majority of us, this is not the way we behave. Self-importance and ambition tend to persuade us to put this so far behind on the back burner, that it is just about falling off. The theory is nice. But let others do so. “I’m far too important to stand aside for you or anyone else!” Jesus is quoted in Matthew 11 as telling us that 11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Mat 11:11 ESV The one who is the least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than John. This Scripture has been grossly misquoted and misunderstood. Every teaching I’ve heard has, said that a New Testament Christian is better than John the Baptist. In other words, you and I are greater than John the Baptist. As usual, we have put self-importance and ambition above the clear meaning of Scripture. That is not the way we should understand this verse. Jesus was saying to His disciples, “The Servant of all is the greatest in the Kingdom of God.” Jesus Christ came as the servant of all. There is no doubt that in God’s Kingdom, He is the greatest of all. But it is possible to emulate Jesus. We must seek to be everyone’s servant. Sure, Jesus is a “hard act” to follow. But it’s the level of servant-hood that makes us better than others. The way up in God’s Kingdom is always down. So to become “better” than you, I must be your servant; actually I should become your slave! The one who serves others without taking himself into consideration is the greatest of all. That’s what Jesus did. He is the greatest of all. Those who humble themselves in like manner become great or greater in God’s Kingdom. In other words, we should be competing with each other to “out-serve” each other. In God’s Kingdom, “promotion” comes by what the world considers demotion. For me to be a “better Christian than you, I must be your servant, not your boss! God’s Kingdom is not organised like a business. If anything it is the other way up! God’s Kingdom does not have a “pecking order”. It has a “serving order”. If you or I are able to be a greater servant than Jesus Christ, we will be greater in God’s Kingdom than He is. That’s impossible; but it is a wonderful goal to aim at. So if you have a vision for greatness in God’s Kingdom, start serving others. In some respects, the late Mother Theresa got it right. Her “secret” was to lovingly serve others. She did exactly that. “But she wasn’t a Christian!” I hear people say. Be that as it may. She certainly did what God’s Word tells us all to do. She became the servant of all she met. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			40 You get a hint at the diversity of resurrection glory by looking at the diversity of bodies not only on earth but in the skies-- 41 sun, moon, stars--all these varieties of beauty and brightness. And we're only looking at pre-resurrection "seeds"--who can imagine what the resurrection "plants" will be like! 1 Cor 15:40-41 MSG	Men thrive on self-importance and everything they’ve done. Many are called ministers, but don’t obey God’s Son. They look at other people, as though they are not there. And when it is convenient, they scream and yell and swear. Lord it is so easy to carry on this way. I know that I was doing it and am ashamed to say; Just like the apostles I’ve thought, “I am the best!” Look at what God’s given me! It proves that I am blessed!” But there has been an emptiness, which blessings cannot fill. An absence of Your presence. O Lord where is the thrill, Of beautiful relationship? At times my heart’s felt dead. Lord, where is the promise of being Spirit led? My brother and my sister, does this apply to you? Someone who is struggling to do and do and do? Is everything mechanical? Are you behind a mask? And what has happened to the joy behind your daily task? My friend, I’ve been there often. It is a path well-trod. A path that takes you everywhere, except to Father God. Perhaps you cannot see the way through all the many tears, That you have shed while seeking Him, throughout your former years? Is this perhaps a “somewhere” you know you’ve often been? Are you feeling dirty? Your memories unclean? Like the twelve apostles are you fighting to be top? My brother and my sister, now is the time to stop. It isn’t very easy. But Jesus showed the way. Make yourself contented, with Jesus every day. Status isn’t anything. He didn’t make a fuss. He Who made the Universe became a one of us! He didn’t cling to privilege; He made Himself a slave; Who’d think that the Creator would do something so brave? And then the crucifixion. It shakes me to the core! For You have said so clearly, there isn’t any more, That You could do for sinners. “It’s finished” You have said. And finally, to cap it all, You came back from the dead. You did all this for people! O Lord, it’s upside down. You did it so that wicked men could also wear Your crown. You showed us by example, we must become the least. Honour other people; become a servant priest. There are not many people at the bottom of the pile. So go ahead and join them; Be with them for a while! Remember I have promised that you will be My bride. You’ll sit with Me in Glory; forever at My side. So when you’re serving tables and have to clean the loo You’re getting a promotion that’s perfect; just for you. You do not have to like it. Just do it all the same. And you will know the glory, of serving in My Name. Jim Strickland Written 2nd February 2012
			33 And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you discussing on the way?" 34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. 35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, "If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all. Mark 9:33-35 ESV
			5 And you who are younger must follow your leaders. But all of you, leaders and followers alike, are to be down to earth with each other, for-- God has had it with the proud, But takes delight in just plain people. 6 So be content with who you are, and don't put on airs. God's strong hand is on you; he'll promote you at the right time. 7 Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you. 1 Peter 5:5-7 MSG
			5 Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. 6 He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. 7 Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! 8 Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death--and the worst kind of death at that: a crucifixion. 9 Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honoured him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, 10 so that all created beings in heaven and on earth--even those long ago dead and buried--will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, 11 and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honour of God the Father. Philip 2:5-11 MSG
			3 "'Men and women who have lived wisely and well will shine brilliantly, like the cloudless, star-strewn night skies. And those who put others on the right path to life will glow like stars forever. Dan 12:3 MSG