"I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be a partaker of it with you."
1 Corinthians 9:22b-23
While reading the Principles for Christian Service book a few weeks ago, a certain line struck me. The author first quotes 2 Corinthians 4:5 which says, "For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake." Then he makes this statment, "We serve God's people, not for our sake, or even for their sake, but for Jesus' sake." Wow, that's pretty incredible. I guess it links back to the "whatsoever you've done to the least of these, you've done it unto Me."
The Lord has been so gracious in dealing with me on this issue. My inclination is to not like people. It's not necessarily that I particularly dislike them, I just don't like them. I tend to think the worst and keep my expectations low. I've learned a lot about that in recent days but before I go there, what is God's summation of the humanity?
"The heart is decietful above all thins and desperately wicked. Who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9
"Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Genesis 6:5
Oh, but that's the God of the Old Testament. The Jesus of the New Testament would never say something like that! He just wants us all to get along. Really?
"Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." Matthew 12:34
And you don't even want to know what He said to the Pharisees in Matthew 23, or how He cleansed the temple, or how the apostle Paul quoted the Old Testament, as well as said some of his own things about the wickedness of humanity. No, mankind is certainly basically bad. However, the reality of man's unworthiness does not effect God's response to us. In fact, it was the reality of our unworthiness that made Christ go to the cross. Had we been worthy, He wouldn't have needed to come.
"For when we were still without strength, in due time, Christ died for the ungodly. . .But God demonstrates His won love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans5:6,8
Jesus only ever did the things that please the Father. He spoke what the Father told Him to speak, He did what the Father wanted Him to do. Yes, Jesus loves us but He also set a precident for us in our attitude towards service. Ministry isn't about us or even about "them." It's all about Him.
Somedays, there are just some people who don't seem "worth it" to me. It is especially at those times that I need to remember to do all things as unto the Lord. After all, if Jesus died for me, the epitome of unworthiness, how much more should I be willing to die for others.
Application: Today, I will serve others even when I don't particularly want to or feel that they don't deserve it.
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