Spiritual DisciplinesSample

Week 4- Serving

Day 1- Understanding the Heart of Service

Discover: In Mark 10:45, Jesus teaches the importance of service, specifically the heart posture believers should have when serving. Jesus exemplifies the heart of service through His life, which was characterized by humility and a deep desire to serve others. He consistently put the needs of others before His own, whether that be physical or spiritual needs. This selfless attitude was not just about the actions themselves but the heart behind them–a genuine love and compassion for others.

Learn: In this verse, we see a powerful declaration from Jesus about the “why” behind His ministry. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came down from heaven to serve mankind, not to be served by others. He gave this response to His disciples James and John, who had requested to be seated at the right and left hand of His throne–positions of highest prestige in an earthly kingdom, bringing status and recognition. The disciples had lost sight of their mission to serve those around them. They began to see themselves as more significant than others and allowed their selfish ambition and conceit to take over. In contrast, Jesus, though He was God, understood the importance of serving others. Paul writes in Philippians 2:3-9 that although Jesus was God, He did not consider equality with God something to be grasped. Instead, He emptied Himself by taking the form of a servant and humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. This is the heart of a true servant: one who is willing to put to death their desires and seek the good of others.

Apply: Many times in our walk with the Lord, we find ourselves being more like James and John, prioritizing our own desires instead of adopting a selfless attitude and a posture of service like Jesus. We tend to focus on fulfilling our own interests rather than considering the needs of others. When we turn service into selfish ambition or lack the desire to serve, we must seek the Lord in prayer. We should ask Him to soften our hearts and renew in us a desire to serve His church and those around us. It's important to remember that we cannot do this by our strength; rather, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit, and it is only through Him that we can walk in the confidence of our salvation.

· In what ways can we incorporate Jesus' example of selfless service into our daily lives?

· Why is it important to serve others with the same humility and love that Jesus showed?

· How can serving others with the same humility and love that Jesus showed impact our relationships and community?

· How does the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus help us when we are struggling to serve those around us?