Servant of Who?

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:
Greetings. (James 1:1)

Yesterday we talked about James being a servant. When a person is a servant that means he or
she is serving someone. Do you remember what the text for today says about the person that
James was serving?

God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

James’ main goal was serving God. What this means is that God’s wishes were James’ wishes.
God’s heart was his heart. God’s loves were his loves. A servant only does what the master tells
him and shows him. James loves the fact that his master, Jesus, is the greatest of all.

But here is the really cool thing: We are called to join James as servants of God too. But we
serve him in light of the fact that he has served us! Did you know that when Jesus walked the
earth he said that he, God himself, wanted to be primarily identified as a servant (Mark 10:45).
God as a servant! His ultimate act of service was dying in our place on a bloody Roman cross.

Read John 13:1-17
1. How does this scene display Jesus as a servant? (Washing feet was only something that a
servant would do in those days. It was disgusting work.)
2. Why would Jesus do this for his disciples?
3. What are some ways that you could be more of a servant in light of the fact that God has
served us so well?

Prayer
Our Father, thank you that you have served us so well in the cross and the empty tomb. You
have served as well by sending your Holy Spirit to empower us for good works. You have
served us by giving us all that we need. Help us to love serving you and all those around us who
need to be served. In Jesus’ name, Amen.