Serving Jesus Doesn't Begin At School

Pastoral Reflections to Grow in our Ministry

Serving Jesus doesn’t begin at school. It doesn’t begin with being recognized. It doesn’t start with being asked. It doesn’t start because there is a need. It doesn’t start anywhere but in the depths of your heart and personal relationship with Jesus.  Serving Him is a clear response to the calling of God to rise up and be used mightily, a connection of the heart of God with your heart.  Serving begins and ends with Jesus.  Every minister of any kind or calling needs a true growing servant’s heart.

And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."

Mark 9:35 (NKJV)

But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 "Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 "And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Mark 10:42-45 (NKJV)

Because the beginning of any service, especially pastoral service begins with the heart, it’s a seriously personal thing between Jesus and the man serving that cannot be neglected.  While with the lips it’s easy to say all sorts of things, if the heart isn’t right, it will come out soon enough.  True servant-hood can’t be faked, at least for very long. If your heart isn’t right, nothing else will be right either.  That’s when people start to get hurt.  What you do, how you act, the things you say are a reflection of your character, of who you really are inside.  Our character is a reflection of our heart.

If you’re heart is not right, no amount of work, or school, and effort can change it.  Only God can change your heart.  The position of change is always humble readiness and openness.

It’s true: servants of Jesus act, talk, and think like servants.  They serve with the heart of Jesus caring for people as He cared, from the heart.