I was at a banquet where I was being honored and receiving an award… even got to sit at the head table!
During the meal a wonderful African-American man served our table diligently, cheerfully, and graciously.
So who was the greatest? Luke 22:24-27, a passage I read this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” came to mind as I thought of that occasion…
“A dispute also arose among the disciples as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that! Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves!”
Who was my Lord and Savior most like? The guy sitting at the head table about to receive an award? Or the one serving with diligence, cheerfulness and grace? HIS WORDS PIERCED MY HEART TODAY “I AM AMONG YOU AS ONE WHO SERVES!” Oh, I want to be done with the petty discussions of “who is considered the greatest” among us! Instead I aspire to be like Jesus… “I am among you as one who serves.”
Just finished having “Coffee with the Lord” this morning … Good stuff in my Bible reading today! Now this passage is a great way to start your day! Having God as the Lord of your life is a great way to live your life!
“Praise the Lord, who is my Rock!… He is my loving Ally and my Fortress, my Tower of safety, my Rescuer! He is my Shield – I take refuge in Him!
“May our sons flourish in their youth like well-nurtured plants. May our daughters be like graceful pillars, carved to beautify a palace. May our barns be filled with crops of every kind. May the flocks in our fields multiply by the thousands, even tens of thousands, and may our oxen be loaded down with produce. May there be no enemy breaking through our walls, no going into captivity, no cries of alarm in our town squares. YES, JOYFUL ARE THOSE WHO LIVE LIKE THIS! JOYFUL INDEED ARE THOSE WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD!” (Psalm 144:1-2, 12–15 NLT)
When I was a boy growing up in a little town in Western Montana, we had a family in our small church that was “infamous” in our community … Did you get that? I said “infamous” (not famous). They were anything but a testimony to the benefits and positive impact of knowing Christ. Their lawn was unkempt… just a patch of ground with waist high weeds with a broken down fence around it. Their house didn’t look like it had been painted since the beginning of World War I. Went in their house a time or two… just a narrow path through clutter and piles of collected junk. Every businessman in town knew them for their irresponsibility and unpaid bills. Citizens of the little community would just shake their head in wonder and disgust at the mention of their name… AND THEY WENT TO OUR CHURCH (didn’t give us the best advertising for practical Christianity)! And the sad thing was, the husband was an able-bodied man, wife was intelligent… and the kids were the victim (learning a lifestyle that was just like dad and mom’s).
Here’s what Apostle Paul had to say about that issue… (I read it this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord”)
“Now we command you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother (or sister) who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9 It was not because we did not have that right, but to give you, in ourselves, an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: ‘If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.’ For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. As for you, do not grow weary in doing good! If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother (or sister).” (2 Thessalonians 3:6–15 ESV)
Hey, that’s not simply my opinion… it’s just practical Christian living and affirmed under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit by Apostle Paul. Want a paraphrase of it – just put in ordinary English? Here it is… THOSE WHO CLAIM TO BE CHRISTIANS SHOULD NEVER BE DEADBEATS!
