True Servanthood: Mary not Martha

  I believe servant leadership is living like Christ—obeying only the will of our Father. It is not attempting to fulfill everyone’s expectation, whim or request in an effort to be a slave. We are slaves of Christ alone, not man. I believe the most basic thing a minister can do to cultivate the qualities of servant leadership involves two sides of the same coin: one abide in a life of worship of Christ, resting in His vine and easy yoke (be a Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet & not a Martha running around in one’s own strength to win the world for Christ), and obeying Christ

The power of teamwork

The power of teamwork

   What if 12 men, each having two 2X4 boards and four nails, came together to create something? They could frame a small building. It is the same way with the Lord. Paul uses the illustration that we are God’s building (Read 1 Corinthians 3). When we unite together for the sake of our Faith in Christ, we can do amazing things for the Kingdom. One man with two 2X4’s and four nails probably won’t be able to build very much, but when they come together—WOW!

·        Pause and think about the power of teamwork with other Christians. Unity is important.

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A Leader – the greatest servant

A Leader – the greatest servant

        Jesus taught that the greatest must first be the least (Matthew 20:26); they must be the servant of all if they wish to be great. Why are we to serve others? Because it is the character and teaching of Christ. Christ was the world’s greatest servant, teacher, and lover. Christ loved with an authentic love and because He was love and laid His life down for sinners. He laid down his life.

How can you serve? Service, true Christ-like service; is the only way to be a leader in the Kingdom of God.

“…Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be the servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:42-43 KJV (also check out Matt. 20:26)

Thought 343: A Leader -- the greatest servant from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

 

 

Thought 343

A Leader – the greatest servant

        Jesus taught that the greatest must first be the least (Matthew 20:26); they must be the servant of all if they wish to be great. Why are we to serve others? Because it is the character and teaching of Christ. Christ was the world’s greatest servant, teacher, and lover. Christ loved with an authentic love and because He was love and laid His life down for sinners. He laid down his life.

How can you serve? Service, true Christ-like service; is the only way to be a leader in the Kingdom of God.

“…Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be the servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:42-43 KJV (also check out Matt. 20:26)

 

Thought 254: Do you serve with a servant's heart? from Ryan's devotional book series

Thought 254

Do you serve with a servant’s heart?

Read 1 Corinthians 13.

   A servant’s heart is a loving heart. Without love we are just resounding gongs or clanging symbols!

P Do you really love?

P Have you been loving like Christ loves?

If you haven’t been operating in love pray…

Admit, to the Father, that you have not been loving. Ask the Lord to forgive you and to teach you how to love like Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. And ask the Lord to give you a “heart transplant”—a new heart full of His love to spill out on others.

Thought 182: "Here am I, send me!" Isaiah 6:8 from Ryan Marks devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 182

“Here am I, send me!” Isaiah 6:8

(NIV1984)

  If God asks for something to be done are you ready to say I’m here, Lord, let me go! I want to do it! If God needs you to witness, to a “Hard Thing,” to speak in front of real people, to teach a lesson, to scrub toilets, to write, or to accomplish a goal (i.e. a medal, a test, a website, a book, a movie, etc…) will you say “Send me, Lord!”

 May we stand! May we be willing and obedient so that God be able to use us to accomplish His plans!

  If God needs someone to polish those golden streets in Heaven one day will you accept?

  May we be given a desire, a hunger, and a ravishing drive to accomplish the will of the Lord! May He guide our steps in our relationships, careers, callings, purposes, beliefs, disciplines, confrontations, hard times, and mountaintop experiences.

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39 (NIV1984)