1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,140 One of the most popular devotional songs is the one that asks God to "Make me a servant." 2 00:00:06,140 --> 00:00:07,300 You know the song: 3 00:00:07,300 --> 00:00:12,700 "Make me a Servant Lord, make me like You For You are a servant, make me one too." 4 00:00:12,700 --> 00:00:17,600 The melody is beautiful and the words pierce through to the very core of the character 5 00:00:17,609 --> 00:00:20,429 of Jesus and the Christian faith. 6 00:00:20,429 --> 00:00:23,179 When we sing this song do we know what we are asking? 7 00:00:23,179 --> 00:00:28,849 We are asking that Jesus make us like He was, a servant. 8 00:00:28,849 --> 00:00:32,210 Sounds good but do we really want this? 9 00:00:32,210 --> 00:00:37,930 Servants are obedient without grumbling; servants do the hard work; servants are responsible 10 00:00:37,930 --> 00:00:45,210 and accountable; servants do not get the praise and rewards of men; servants do service, that 11 00:00:45,210 --> 00:00:46,730 is what they are about. 12 00:00:46,730 --> 00:00:49,250 One thing for sure: servants are not "cool." 13 00:00:49,250 --> 00:00:55,970 The song says "do whatever has to be done" in order to make us servants like Jesus. 14 00:00:55,970 --> 00:01:00,760 Again, sounds easy but do we realize some of the things that may happen to us in the 15 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:03,060 fulfilling of that request? 16 00:01:03,060 --> 00:01:09,499 Our pride might have to be broken through suffering and trials in order to become like Him. 17 00:01:09,499 --> 00:01:11,490 We might have to learn new tasks. 18 00:01:11,490 --> 00:01:18,530 We may have to give up old positions, friends, comfort, zones, habits; in other words change, 19 00:01:18,530 --> 00:01:21,920 really change our character and our lives. 20 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:28,439 It may mean we have to sacrifice time, money and effort to reach this objective: sacrifice 21 00:01:28,439 --> 00:01:30,509 means pain. 22 00:01:30,509 --> 00:01:33,450 Becoming a servant like Jesus may cause us real pain. 23 00:01:33,450 --> 00:01:35,909 Do we want this? 24 00:01:35,909 --> 00:01:41,609 Most songs today talk about love (looking for it or losing it) but this song talks about 25 00:01:41,609 --> 00:01:47,420 wanting something everybody in our society is trying to get away from, humility and service. 26 00:01:47,420 --> 00:01:52,899 I think when people sing this they are doing it to honor God and praise Jesus with a beautiful 27 00:01:52,899 --> 00:01:59,029 song about how He was a servant, not so much about us wanting to be servants. 28 00:01:59,029 --> 00:02:05,069 Like many songs we sing, we are not totally conscious of the meaning and impact of the words. 29 00:02:05,070 --> 00:02:09,739 But if we are, if we do mean it, here are some things to do that will accomplish in 30 00:02:09,739 --> 00:02:13,120 your life, the ideas expressed in this song: 31 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:17,840 1. Pray that God will prepare you for service 32 00:02:17,849 --> 00:02:22,260 When we study the lives of the men and women of the Bible we see how God prepared them 33 00:02:22,260 --> 00:02:27,850 in various ways for the service they would eventually render to Him: Moses trained to 34 00:02:27,850 --> 00:02:34,900 survive in the desert; David trained for war; Esther prepared to be queen; Paul trained 35 00:02:34,900 --> 00:02:36,450 in the Law. 36 00:02:36,450 --> 00:02:41,340 The first step is to ask God to prepare us for service; and He will. 37 00:02:41,340 --> 00:02:46,390 Prepare us spiritually by dealing with our sins and helping us develop our gifts. 38 00:02:46,390 --> 00:02:52,769 Prepare us emotionally and physically by providing us with the resources to equip us for service. 39 00:02:52,769 --> 00:02:58,540 God answers a legitimate request to prepare us to serve Him more, or more effectively. 40 00:02:58,540 --> 00:03:02,860 2. Be sensitive to opportunities for service 41 00:03:02,870 --> 00:03:07,959 We sing the song but ignore all the needs crying out for our help; ignore the announcements 42 00:03:07,959 --> 00:03:11,800 for volunteers to teach, serve, visit and give. 43 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:14,069 The church never lacks opportunities for service. 44 00:03:14,069 --> 00:03:17,700 It is servants we do not have enough of. 45 00:03:17,700 --> 00:03:23,239 If you want to be like Jesus, open your eyes and see that the fields are truly "white unto 46 00:03:23,239 --> 00:03:25,700 harvest" in opportunities for servants. 47 00:03:25,700 --> 00:03:30,239 3. Remember that the servant does receive a reward 48 00:03:30,239 --> 00:03:35,219 The problem with servanthood is that it receives no honor or respect from the world, and that 49 00:03:35,219 --> 00:03:36,829 is difficult to bear. 50 00:03:36,829 --> 00:03:39,920 But this is not to say that there is no honor at all. 51 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:43,160 The servant is honored by God, not by man. 52 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:48,470 The servant receives glory when Jesus comes, even though his/her position is low now. 53 00:03:48,470 --> 00:03:55,129 The servant also experiences peace of mind and the joy that this produces. 54 00:03:55,129 --> 00:04:00,530 The great rewards of servanthood in Christ; honor from God, glory with Jesus, peace of 55 00:04:00,530 --> 00:04:06,840 mind now, make up for whatever sacrifices that Christian service requires and far surpass 56 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:11,400 whatever rewards the unbelievers may experience for a short time on this earth. 57 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:16,970 Do you really want to be a servant like Jesus, or are you just singing a song? 58 00:04:16,970 --> 00:04:22,460 If you do then the first step is to become His disciple through repentance and baptism. 59 00:04:22,460 --> 00:04:27,560 For those disciples who have just been singing the song but want to do more, I encourage 60 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:33,600 you to begin praying that God prepare you and provide you with an opportunity for service. 61 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:42,600 1. What skill or ability do you use the most in service to others? Which skill or ability do you use least? Why? 62 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:49,540 2. In your opinion, why did God appoint men to be deacons and not women? 63 00:04:49,540 --> 00:04:56,920 3. Name an area of ministry in your congregation that needs help. If put in charge what would you do to improve it? 64 00:04:56,920 --> 00:05:03,840 4. Identify one circumstantial and one spiritual obstacle in your life that prevents you from more effective service to the Lord. 65 00:05:03,840 --> 00:05:11,420 5. Break the groups down into three person teams. Have each team identify two new ministries that could be established in their congregation. Feedback with details to the group.