"It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them."
Luke 12:37 (NIV)
It seems backwards for a Master to wait upon His servants! Peter thought that it was backwards and he didn’t want to allow the Master to wash his feet. Do we make the same mistake? I have heard a number of messages about ‘servant leadership’ out of the account of the washing of the feet, and each time it was emphasized that Jesus did it as an example for the disciples – almost as if Jesus ‘modeled’ the behaviour He expected of His disciples. There is truth in that emphasis, but don’t make the mistake in thinking that our Lord was acting! NO – He was demonstrating His true character for He is humble in heart (Mt 11:29).
This text teaches that our Lord serves those whom He finds watching when He comes. Most of us can agree that the Lord Jesus came humbly and as a servant in His incarnation. He humbled Himself even to the point of death, but what about the 2nd coming, when He comes in power, authority and fiery judgment? This text teaches that He will also come as a servant for those He finds watching. Watching is defined through this passage, as having your clothes on (righteous acts) and having your lamp burning (living by the Spirit). If we just stop and think for a moment about the truth that the Spirit brings gifts in our lives to do the works, that the Spirit equips us to do the works, and that the Spirit gives us the energy (unction) to do these works which were prepared in advance for us (Eph 2:10), we soon realize that these righteous acts are really done by God, but we get credit for them.
The Christian life is a matter of abiding in Him, resting in Him, surrendering to Him, producing fruit in Him, and trusting in Him. Friend – will you allow Him to serve you today? Do you have it backwards? Are you rushing around loaded down with a to-do list? Perhaps a list of dos and don’ts, or a list of works that you have to do in order to please the Lord. Don’t make the mistake of Martha; what she did was good, but what Mary did was better! All Mary did was draw near to the Lord, sit at His feet and listen to His Words (Lk 10:38-42). Oh friend, don’t be like Peter, or like Martha today. Be like Mary and allow the Lord to serve you in your own house, in your own life, in your own situation! He is standing at the door waiting to come in.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Mt 11:28-30)
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