Served!

Served!

Just as the Son of Man came not to be waited on but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many [the price paid to set them free]. Matthew 20:28 AMPC

Background:

Jesus gave a parable about the rules of His kingdom. All men are open to service, and the owner of the vineyard calls all men to come. There is enough work for all men, and there is no time that is too late, as long as you come in before it is too late. The terms of engagement are laid out by the owner of the vineyard, and He definitely pays fair wages as laid out by Him and agreed. For all who come to the vineyard and work as required, they will get the wages as advised. Of course, Jesus was speaking of his kingdom, not the type the world knew. His was a kingdom where God reigns supreme, with no challenge to His power and authority. I guess this was why the mother of James and John thought it best to act fast and secure prime positions for her sons in that kingdom. She wanted the posts of the left and right hands of Jesus in his kingdom. Like her, do we know what the rules of the kingdom are? 

Focus:

If indeed we are looking ahead to that kingdom, do we even know what the demands of that kingdom on our lives are? Let it not be that all I seek are the benefits of the kingdom, not its demands. I must not seek only the joys, but I must be ready to also submit to the pains of the kingdom. God is calling me to a life of service in His kingdom, and just like Jesus did, the path to the benefits of the kingdom lies in the midst of some very uncomfortable experiences. The mother of the 2 boys didn't know what she was asking for: she probably thought she was being smart by having access to Jesus, but then, it must be noted that knowing Jesus means knowing who He is, what He wants, where He wants me to be, and what He wants me to be doing. It isn't so much about what I get, but what He wants me to do. The life of Jesus is the perfect example of what God wants.

Conclusion:

Jesus knew who He was, so there was nothing to prove. He simply emptied Himself and just served. There was no one He would turn away, and from the rich, young ruler to the man at the pool of Bethsaida, to Nicodemus and even the old man Simeon and the old woman Anna, all of them had a personal encounter with Jesus. He gave Himself wholly to the world, holding nothing back and he impacted the lives of all who met with Him. Even his enemies could not fault his impact; they hated Him, but the lives He touched were constant testimonies to His virtue and grace. What more could a person give than His life? That was the ultimate price, and with His life, He has now secured life for all who come to believe in Him. I am set free from the power of sin, and I can look ahead to heaven, where I wil reign with Jesus. While I wait, no service is to small or too big to render. I know who I am working for, and He pays well. God's time of favour is here.