Serve!

Serve!

But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. Matthew 23:11 KJV

Moses received the law and taught it to the people of Israel. The latter part of Exodus, almost the whole of Leviticus and part of Numbers and Deuteronomy are used to teach the people the requirements of the law. We usually refer to Moses as the lawgiver, but for balance, let's look at three passages in the Bible:

a. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ. John 1:17 NET 

b. There is only one lawgiver and judge—the One who is able to save and to destroy...James 4:12 TLV.

c. And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord , and unto all the elders of Israel. Deuteronomy 31:9 KJV

It is therefore clear that God's original plan was that the Levites would be the teachers of the law, who would teach the people regularly and ensure that they knew what God's mind was on all matters. Fast forward a few centuries later, after several exiles, the post of custodian and teachers of the law had become politicised. Men who knew nothing about the law and its requirements had become teachers of the law. In fact, some were now known by the names 'Pharisees and Teachers of the law'. They could read the law of Moses, but from the interactions of Jesus with them, they knew nothing about what the law really wanted. 

Am I one of such people, with deep head knowledge about the law, but a deep lack of understanding of what the law actually requires? I can quote, teach, speak and read it, but does it make an imprint on my heart and life? Am I all about daily reading, yet no daily living? This was the accusation that Jesus levied against the so-called teachers of the law in his own time: men who could teach the law and tell men what to do, but whose personal lives were a mess, and a complete negation of what they taught. May I not be found to be a hypocrite, when I stand before God for judgement. By then, it will be too late to make changes.

That is the context of today's extract. Jesus speaks to the crowd and to the disciples, warning them about the dangers of following men who themselves do not follow God. He says: "Hear and listen to what they say, but be careful about the examples that you emulate.' These men had become masters over the people; in fact, the Pharisees and teachers of the law featured prominently during the events of the death of Jesus. That's how far away the teachers of the law had wandered away from the truth of the law. What am I holding on to: the tokens of men, or the truth of God's Word? Do I know what the word of God says, or am I just all about what I can get from it or how comfortable it makes me? 

And today's extract is the warning and encouragement to all who want to please God. Service isn't about position, but about impact. Men love the position but cannot put in the work the position requires. What the service is called isn't important; as long as I know who I work for and why I work, that is all that the law of the kingdom of God requires. The world emphasizes position as a measure of importance; God emphasizes service as the measure of submission. These two are fundamentally opposed to each other. You cannot achieve both at the same time, but you can by getting it right, be a blessing to your generation and also win God's approval. So, don't bother using the world's system to get what God offers. The way up is the way down. By total submission to God, a person learns the right way to serve God and also serve humanity. The world's view of greatness isn't the Word's view. How I pursue greatness will reveal which view I live by. And you don't get it right by accident; it is the result of a deliberate search for God's truth and total submission to it when you have found it. So, what's your view? His time of favour is here.