Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus...

"Behold, Let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord... " 2 Samuel 25:41

Oh, to be a servant! It doesn't come natural to serve.... we can all attest to that.  

While reading last night chapter 25 of 2 Samuel, I found the words of Abigail as a response to David's marriage proposal simply thought provoking! 

 Let thine handmaid be a servant... to wash the feet of the servants of my lord. 

How many times have I struggled to be a servant... and yet Abigail's response made me think how much deeper it entails to be a servant.

What does it mean to display a spirit of servanthood? The character of a servant  in the eyes of Abigail wasn't merely just serving her master (David)... it meant to also serve and wash the feet of the other servants. She didn't take on the entitlement of being David's wife and using it for her own glory. Rather, she sought to give herself sacrificially for the well-being of her family. That was the truest form of humility. 

Before honor is humility...

"Before destruction the heart of man is haughty,

 and 

before honour is humility." 

Proverbs 18:12

How often we desire honor... and yet we are not willing to be humble. We are not willing to serve others. We are not willing to wash each other's feet. 

It defies all human comprehension when we look upon the Lord Jesus Christ. Because the Lord Jesus humbled Himself and took on the form of a servant. 

Not I, But Christ 

Not I, but Christ be honored, loved, exalted,

Not I, but Christ be seen, be known and heard;

Not I, but Christ in every look and action,

Not I, but Christ in every thought and word.

 

Oh, to be saved from myself, dear Lord,

  Oh, to be lost in Thee,

Oh, that it may be no more I,

    But Christ that lives in me.

Not I, but Christ to gently soothe in sorrow,

Not I, but Christ to wipe the falling tear;

Not I, but Christ to lift the weary burden,

Not I, but Christ to hush away all fear.

Christ, only Christ, no idle word e’er falling,

Christ, only Christ, no needless bustling sound;

Christ, only Christ, no self-important bearing,

Christ, only Christ, no trace of I be found.

Not I, but Christ my every need supplying,

Not I, but Christ my strength and health to be;

Christ, only Christ, for spirit, soul, and body,

Christ, only Christ, live then Thy life in me.

Christ, only Christ, ere long will fill my vision,

Glory excelling soon, full soon I’ll see;

Christ, only Christ, my every wish fulfilling,

Christ, only Christ, my all in all to be.

Mrs. Ada A. Whiddington (1891)

Holy Father, Thank you for offering up the Lord Jesus to be the sacrifice for our redemption. We are grateful for the beautiful example the Lord Jesus displayed in taking upon Himself the form of a servant and washing our feet. Help us to walk in His ways and clothe ourselves with humility as we seek to wash each other's feet.

May you be lifted up today to see the need that is around you and be used as a servant for the glory of God.

~Ellie

TURN AWAY mine eyes FROM beholding VANITY...

" TEACH me O Lord the way of THY statues... Give me UNDERSTANDING, and I shall keep THY law... Make me to go in the path of THY commandments... Incline my HEART unto THY testimonies, and not to covetousness... STABLISH THY WORD unto thy servant." PS. 119: 33-38.

Lately I've been thinking about our role here on this earth. What is the meaning of our salvation? As I was memorizing a few verses from Psalm 73, I came to the last verse, where it says, " But it is good for me to draw near to GOD, I have put my trust in the LORD, GOD... that I might declare ALL THY works.

I guess it's real simple. We are to show forth God's work in us. We are to live for HIS glory. And we are to imitate the LORD JESUS CHRIST through our actions.

Last night while getting ready for bed, my husband and I took a few hymns to sing together. And while he was still brushing his teeth, I was flipping through the hymn book, looking for a few hymns we could sing together. That's when I ran across a hymn I didn't seem to recognize... and I wasn't familiar with the melody either. But I loved the words!

It's not about us. We are to have the mind of Christ in us always... in our actions, thoughts and deeds.

I'm posting the words, not only because it's such a beautiful hymn, but I'm hoping it will encourage you as it did me.

O I want to be like Jesus,
As I walk along this pilgrim way;
O I want to live like Jesus,
Showing forth His beauty every day.
This my prayer and deepest longing -
To be pure without, within.
O I want to be like Jesus,
Cleansed from dross and free from self and sin.

O I want to talk like Jesus,
Gracious are the words from Him we hear:
Words of life and hope for sinners,
Tender healing words of love and cheer.
O the power and the value of a fitly spoken word!
O I want to talk like Jesus,
Any time or place my voice is heard.

O I want to serve like Jesus,
Willingly He came from Heaven above;
On the earth He lived for others,
Spent His life in kindly deeds of love.
I would follow where He leads me
And His bidding always do.
O I want to serve like Jesus
Till my traveling days on earth are through.

John W. Peterson

I'm again reminded of the LORD JESUS CHRIST... who came as a servant, not to to be served, but rather to serve... and in the end, gave HIS life that we may live.

We are to live for God... and to be free of self.

"And that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto HIM which died for them and rose again." 2 Cor. 5:15

May you be strengthened in the thought today... to live for Jesus... to talk like Jesus...and to serve like Jesus.

~Ellie