Matthew 20:28

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Scripture:  Matthew 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Observation: Jesus didn't come to be fed, pampered and appreciated. He came to serve others. He came to work, to give, to encourage, to heal, to feed, to lift up and ultimately to give His all for us. Jesus is our example, the one that we are to pattern our lives after.. If Jesus, the Prince of Peace and the King of Kings came to serve, so much more so, should we be willing to do the same.

Application: Many Christians today are wonderful at saying "Praise the Lord, God is good!" They are wonderful at attending church on Sunday mornings and shaking hands, greeting guests and singing hymns. But when it comes time to serve... to get down and dirty, and to really work... many Christians seem to have better things to do. It is said that in churches today, 20% of the people do 80% of the work.... and it ought not to be so. Christ is our example, the pattern after which we mold our lives... Christ was willing to touch those with leprosy (and we struggle with going to a nursing home or hospital...) Christ sat down to dinner with people who were known sinners (and we struggle with going into a jail...) Christ walked for miles to teach and to encourage (and we won't even drive the church bus...) Christ laid His hands on the children and blessed them (and we won't even help out with our local children's ministries...) Christ came to serve others, but we want to be served. Christ came to feed others, but we sit in services complaining that we are not fed, Christ came to encourage and lift up others, we want to be the ones that are encouraged. Christ came to lay down His life for us... but we want everything to be about us...

Are we patterning our lives after Christ? Are we ministering, or being ministered to? The bible tells us what we should be doing... Are we obeying?

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, again Lord, thank You for Your word, and thank You especially for giving us an example according to which we can live. Help me Lord, to serve You. Help me to minister to others and to lift them up and to encourage them. Help me Lord, to live a life that shows You bright and clear... Let people see You in my life, rather than me. Lord, thank You for those faithful obedient Christians who truly do pattern their lives after Yours. Please Lord, bless them today and send them the encouragement they need. Help us each Lord, to follow after You. In Jesus name, Amen.