Serving Challenge: An 11-Day Life-Changing Journey to Serve Like JesusSample

Serving Like Jesus: Jesus's Action

As we turn our attention to Jesus, the most influential man ever to live, it's striking how much Jesus didn't do. He didn't do many things we would likely do today to gain influence.

Jesus didn’t write a book, hold a political office, work at a megachurch, have a social media following, play guitar, speak at a major conference, win an Emmy, write a blog, win a championship, host a podcast, dance on Tiktok, or monetize His YouTube account.

He didn’t even own a house or car, travel outside His region, or earn a degree. How can a man born in the obscure town of Bethlehem and who spent most of His life as a carpenter make such an imprint in this world?

Although Jesus didn't do many things, He was a man of action. But His action was different than ours. While many in this world look to gain influence by climbing up a ladder in life, Jesus's power came by lowering Himself. Yesterday, we referenced how Jesus made Himself available to us by leaving the throne room of heaven and coming down into our world. The apostle Paul continued to describe the descent of Jesus in the Christ Hymn of Philippians 2:

"Taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself..."

The common thread of Jesus's actions is that He became a servant. He showed us what true humility looks like. He valued others' interests above even His own. Jesus didn't come into this world to be served but rather to give up His life to serve us.

In His own words, recorded in Mark 10:45: "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

The more that Jesus served, the more uncomfortable things became for Him. Enemies came out of the woodwork to challenge this former carpenter. He was misunderstood. There were constant attempts to trap Him so they could devise reasons to kill Him.

As I have studied how Jesus served, I realize I fall short of His example. When I look at how Jesus served, I can't help but be challenged by my actions of serving. I want to follow the Way that He showed us. The Way of Jesus is the Way of Action.

Challenge:

Ask God for forgiveness for your inaction. Receive His grace anew. In response to His grace, act upon some type of injustice in some way, shape, or form over the next twenty-four hours.