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Why Serve Me?

Why do you want to serve me? That’s a good question. Why do you think so? It causes me to examine my motives. I ask myself a lot of follow up questions to your question. Like what? Do I serve you because of how I might be rewarded someday in the future? Do I serve you because of some sort of praise and recognition I might receive from others? Do I serve you because I’m trying to earn your approval, acceptance, and love? Do I serve you because I don’t have a choice? What sort of answers are you coming up with? I’m coming up with a no answer to all of my follow up questions. Why is that? They are all very poor motives for serving you. How so? Serving you for possible rewards seems pretty grubby to me. I’m not your hired hand. I don’t have on and off duty hours. I haven’t given you my life from nine to five. You haven’t? No, I’ve given it to you 24/7. That’s good! You will never put compensation in my hand only to have me look around at others and say, “that’s it”. I’m glad to hear that.

Serving you to seek some kind of praise and recognition from others seems like a very feeble reason to serve you. Why is that? Praise from others would never be enough. Living for it would only reveal an emptiness in my heart that only you can fill. Besides, people usually offer more ridicule than praise for serving you. If this were my motive I would never be satisfied. No, you wouldn’t.

Serving you out of a desire to earn your approval, acceptance and love would be an impossible effort. Why is that? All the good I could do would never erase the bad that I have done. I can’t make myself perfect or righteous in your eyes. No you cannot. But, you’ve already made me perfect and righteous in your eyes. How did I do that? You sent your son into this world to save me. He paid for my sins. I’ve been forgiven and cleansed of all my unrighteousness. He has done for me what I never could have done for myself. Yes, He did and yes, I have. So, now you already approve, accept and love me. Yes, I do.

Do I serve you because I don’t have a choice? Of all the questions that I’ve asked myself, this one seemed to have the easiest answer of, “certainly not”. But that isn’t your answer, is it? No, it’s not. When I consider all that you have done for me, and how you have loved and accepted me, my heart responds back to you with love. I love you because you first loved me. I give myself to you because you gave yourself to me. This is not some sort of calculated transaction. No, my heart compels me to serve you because I love you. My heart gives me no choice. You have showered me with your love and acceptance and my heart is now on fire with love for you. For this I am so grateful and thankful. You have already paid me in full. I need or want nothing more. That’s why I want to serve you. That is very good.

Lord, thank you calling me away from a life of living for myself. You forgave, cleansed, and saved me. You gave my life new meaning, purpose and direction. Thank you for giving me a new assignment and work to do serving you. Amen

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Take The Lowest Place- Luke 14:7-14 – Growing As Disciples

But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 14:10-11 (NIV)

You Go First

This is probably not your favorite verse, is it? No, not really. Why is that? The topic hits pretty close to home. What do you mean by that? I know that I battle pride. Yes, you do. It’s good that you understand that this verse is not really about where you sit at a table. Yes, I know that choosing where to sit is just one indication of the condition of my heart. What are others? I was afraid you might ask that. Actually, I was certain that you were going to ask that. It’s a question that makes you a little uncomfortable, doesn’t it? Yes, it does. Why do you think that is? It’s hard to honestly take a look at my pride. What’s hard about it? I know it’s there within me, just lurking below the surface. It’s pretty disgusting. I’d rather not have it. I’d rather it go away. Do you think that it will go away if you deny that it exists? No, I’m sure that it won’t. Do you think that your pride can be dealt with if we talk about it together? Yes, I suppose that it can. Let’s do that then. Alright, I’m game.

How does pride show itself in your life? I can think of a bunch of ways. Let’s hear a few. Frequently, I have to be right. I must win the argument. I like to debate. So, in a debate or argument, I gather all the arguments I have so that I can win. How do you feel at the end of the debate when you’ve won? It feels very unsatisfying to win debates or arguments. Most often I regret having the debate or argument at all. I know that it is possible to win the argument or debate and loose relationally at the same time. Why is that? Debate losers think debate winners are jerks and a lot of the time they are. Right. You don’t want that. No, I don’t. How else has pride been showing itself in your life? I talk too much. I need to make my opinion known. I frequently interrupt others. I listen very poorly and I certainly don’t pick up on the feelings of others very well. I hate to say this, but I like to be the center of attention. Yes, I’ve noticed that. Is there one more way that pride has been showing itself in your life? Yes, I don’t want or need help. I’m self-sufficient. Do you really believe that? No, not at all. I just live and act as if I don’t need help. Do you think that asking for help shows some kind of weakness? I’m not even sure why I don’t ask for help. I know that I am weak. I know that I need help. Right now for example, I need all your help to set aside my pride to live the life of humility you desire for me. So, you’re confessing sin and asking for my help? Yes, I am. That’s very good. How about starting with what this parable suggests? What’s that? Let others always go first in all things. That includes far more than choosing a seat at the table. I want you to regularly ask me a question. What’s that? Ask me how you can serve others and let them go first. When should I ask that? When do you think? I think I should ask you that question all the time. Why is that? Because, I really do need your help all the time. Yes, you do. So, I’m asking for it. That’s very good.

Lord, thank you that you love, accept and recognize me. Help me to know in my heart that I am special to you. Help me to express your love and acceptance to others, as I humble myself, so they can be recognized and honored as being special to you as well. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Parable – Luke 14-7-11 – Take The Lowest Place – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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