The Dining Car: Serve Others
The Dining Car: Serve Others
How do we serve others? Must we put on an apron and dawn a dishcloth? No, but if you prefer then go ahead. But we must be willing to put down the “my” need for the moment and pick up the “your” need.
Jesus demonstrated this in the upper room before His trip to the garden.
“So He got up from supper, laid aside His robe, took a towel, and tied it around Himself. Next, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around Him.
When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His robe, He reclined again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? You call Me Teacher and Lord. This is well said, for I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example that you also should do just as I have done for you.”
John 13:4-5, 12-15 HCSB
Jesus was facing a need that was beyond comprehension, but He set that aside for 15 to 30 minutes to wash the disciple's feet.
In Mark 10 the 12 disciples did not have it figured out. James and John had just asked Jesus if they could sit at His right, the first most important seat, and His left, the second most important seat. However, these seating assignments were not assigned yet. The other disciples began to despise James and John because they thought that James and John would try to rule over them as the number 1 and the number 2 disciples. Do you think they learned to serve by watching Jesus later in the upper room?
In 2 Corinthians Paul encourages the Corinthians to serve others through his example of service to them.
“Therefore, since we have this ministry because we were shown mercy, we do not give up. Instead, we have renounced shameful secret things, not walking in deceit or distorting God’s message, but commending ourselves to every person’s conscience in God’s sight by an open display of the truth.”
2 Corinthians 4:1-2 HCSB
The first thing Paul does is to give up his “needs” of sin so that he may be free from guilt so that he can better serve the conscience of others with blameless and washed hands and hearts.
“Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people!”
The second way Paul served others is to not walk in deceit. He was a truth-teller and an action-taker. We can only serve people when we tell the truth and have actions that match our words. Sure we can serve people in church or through other “ministries”, but when was the last time you connected with another person and they changed your life through your “ministry“?
Paul had two ministries.
1. Make Christ known.
2. Train others to do the same.
“For I didn’t think it was a good idea to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”
1 Corinthians 2:2 HCSB
“And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
Jesus said His work was done twice
1. salvation
2. disciple-making
“When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished! ” Then bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”
“I have glorified You on the earth by completing the work You gave Me to do.”
Why should our serving people look any different?
Let us make Christ known (salvation) and train others to do the same (disciple-making).
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