The Servant Nature of Christ

Most people think of service as the good things they can do to help other people. It makes them feel good to provide food, take someone to the doctor, or give money to support a mission trip. These are good things but not exactly what Jesus was addressing. Jesus was expressing that the focus needs to be on following Him. Following Jesus is true service because as you follow, you will have wisdom and discernment about what and where you should serve. You are valued by God as you serve Jesus.

Many people’s definition of discipleship is complicated. Jesus simplified discipleship when He said, “Follow Me.” You cannot follow Christ and avoid His Word. You cannot follow Christ by being active in all the good things at church while avoiding a time of building a personal relationship with Christ through prayer. Knowing Christ wants you to change but being unwilling to change is not discipleship. True discipleship is following Christ by doing what He commands from a heart of love.

Jesus said unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies it does not produce anything. To follow Jesus requires a dying to self so that He can become your way and truth. Unless you give up your life and your way, you cannot follow Christ. If you could, then that would mean that you desire what Christ can do for you. Too many attempt to live this way.

Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness (Matthew 7:21-23)! This is a perfect example of desiring what Christ can do for you. Jesus said, “Therefore by their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:20).

It has become clear that most Christians think of winning a soul to Christ as the number one fruit that reveals a true follower of Jesus. But what about the “fruit of the Spirit”? When your life is a picture of love, joy, and peace in your everyday relationships, that is a great way for others to see Jesus. The fruit of the Spirit is Jesus, and many times others witness the fruit of the Spirit in your life is a more effective in witnessing than any words that you say about Him.

The Scripture reveals so many different types of fruit that would be helpful to learn in order to assess a person, not in word only, but also by their fruit. Here are some examples:

Good Fruit

The fruit of God’s works (Psalm 104:13)

The righteous’ fruit (Proverbs 11:30)

The fruit of their (righteous) doings (Isaiah 3:10)

Fruits worthy of repentance (Matthew 3:8)

The fruit of our lips (Praise to God) (Hebrews 13:15)

Fruit to God (Romans 7:4)

The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22)

Fruit of righteousness (James 3:18)

Bad Fruit

The fruit of their (man) own way (Proverbs 1:31)

The fruit of an arrogant heart (Isaiah 10:12)

Fruit to death (Romans 7:5)

Prophesying, casting out demons, and performing wonders is not necessarily fruit that reveals if a person knows Jesus and if Jesus knows them. The spirit of a person is the way in which to know if they have a connection with Christ. This is why service in church alone does not prove that someone is born again. True service for Jesus comes from a committed disciple who follows the teaching, leading, and ways of Jesus. This includes following Jesus in your marriage, in your parenting, and in your everyday life. In order to accomplish this, you must seek God first for direction in everything that you face. God will provide the way for every situation, but you will have to follow the way that He provides. Sometimes that means confrontation, and sometimes that means keeping your mouth shut. The timing is all based upon the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

When you follow Christ with all of your heart you will find that His yoke is easy; but when you do not follow Him with all your heart you will think His yoke is difficult. Following Christ is easy. When you try to make your own path in this world, it is difficult. Rebellion to His Ways and seeking your own way complicates following Christ. We confuse serving Christ with attending church and performing acts of kindness. If you follow Christ, you will do those things. However, Jesus said, “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me.” To serve means to follow Christ in a deep, abiding, and personal relationship. Fruit will flow out of a love relationship with Jesus. This type of relationship with Christ requires a pure and faithful heart toward Him.

Jesus said that wherever He is, His servant would be also. But if you are not following Him, then you will not be with Him. When you follow Jesus, you will be conformed to His Ways. When you are living as Christ lived, others will see Christ. Some will love you when they see Christ in you, and some will hate you. You cannot pick and choose the parts of Jesus that you will follow. To choose only some ways is half-hearted faithfulness. In order to be with Christ and walk in His Ways, you must give Him all your heart. When you do, you will receive the same treatment that He received when He walked on earth.

To follow Jesus means to be in His Presence. The Presence of Jesus will bring love and joy to your heart like you have never experienced before. You will also be honored. When you serve Jesus, you are serving God and will be rewarded with God Himself. He honors your life by being present with you and leading you.

 

From John: True Belief Brings Faithfulness (Book 2) by Alison Veazey and Kerry Skinner.