At the Pleasure of the Savior

One of my favorite series I catch on Netflix is “The West Wing.” While watching it, I became aware of a standard response regarding the president’s staff: “I serve at the pleasure of the President.” I don’t know if this response really exists or if it was just for dramatic purposes. But I started thinking about the service issue. When I was thirteen, I served as a waitress for my cousin’s wedding. Thank you. Yes, I’m still recovering. Let’s just say I was not skilled. I tried not to spill food, break plates and grumble. It was not an easy feat. So, I had a negative view of serving. But, alas, it’s all over the place in Christianity, isn’t it? “Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.” Deuteronomy 6:13 “…what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,” Deuteronomy 10:12 “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.” John 12:26 “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” Galatians 5:13 Whew! Yeah. Got it. Anyway, how do we feel about the serving issue? “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he...” Proverbs 23:7 A lot of us probably have negative associations with the word. We may think of mistreated waitresses, humiliation and irritation. Not exactly the stuff which has people lining up around the block. Do we, then, challenge our views of the issue? Or do you and I opt out? If we do that, however, do we miss out? Perhaps, that is the better question to ask. But are we asking it? Or do we ask the question, instead, “what’s in it for me?” Did Jesus ask that question? Yeah. Exactly. Feeling sheepish yet? Scripture tells us we are to follow His lead: “…‘If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Matthew 16:24 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:45 And concerning the serving issue? Yeah. That’s quite inclusive. As we deal with our struggles, issues, disorders and addictions, let’s take the time to stop and check out our service to others. Is it there at all? Are we helping anyone else? Service is the antidote to the myopic self-focus, which, sooner or later causes us problems. God has blessings for us which only come by way of serving. Are we, then, missing out on some of those blessings? “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” John 15:15 Do we, indeed, serve at the pleasure of the Savior? It’s worth asking and perhaps, adjusting, isn’t it? We want to be the addressee of this scripture: “His lord said unto him, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.’” Matthew 25:21 Let’s start with the servant then; let’s be one, in a new and different way in our lives. Let’s start today. “I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.” Psalms 119:125 Copyright © 2013 by Sheryle Cruse