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Worship: September 30, 2023
"God as a Servant"
Lyle Bennett
Very few of us have servants waiting on us in our homes. Yet every day
of our lives there are people around us who serve our needs. During the
recent pandemic we called these people “essential workers.” Without these
people we would not have power, water, food, or health care.
As Christians we like to think about God as “high and lifted up.” Hardly
the picture of a servant. Is it possible that we preach too much of God as an
all-powerful sovereign? Or sing too much of God as a majestic king?
One of the earliest known Christian praise songs is quoted by Paul in
Philippians 2. It celebrates the character quality of God that makes him most
glorious—his servanthood! Because He is a servant for humanity that Paul
foresees a time when every knee will bow to Jesus.
In our everyday life, Paul invites us to participate in modeling the divine
character, because we have internalized His servant-character through the
work of the Spirit of God.
"2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and
compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose."
Philippians 2:1-13 (NIV)