Monday, March 18, 2013

March 18 - Honor Through Service

If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. John 12:26  

It seems to me that everyone wants to be honored—look how many people want to be first in line, whether it is for food or to purchase the latest music, movie video or electronic gadget. Bring me my food first…or I want the best seat in the house. A servant gives up his or her own goals and desires and follows those of their master. Considering Jesus as our master, what are His goals—His focus? He was bent on honoring the Father—so that must be our goal, too. Yet Jesus promised here in this passage from John 12 that if we serve Him, the Father will honor us. In essence…if we honor Him, He will honor us! What a sweet circle of love. So if we are to be Christ’s servants, then we need to follow His ways and His desires. We need to lay down our life for Him—just as Jesus later taught. This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. John 15:12-13. 

Training Tip – Talk with your family about what it means to be “honored”—so that you all are on the same page. Ask your child where they think the most honored person should sit in your home—at the dinner table and in your living room. Ask them what would make them the most honored in the family. Then take turns honoring each other—and being the “servant” and the “honored” person. Have the servant give a cookie or something on a very special plate or bowl to the honoree.  

Lord, teach my children and grandchildren that if they want to become great, they must be a servant. If they want to be first, then they need to be like You Jesus. You didn’t come to be served, but to serve and to give Your life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:26-28).

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.
© 2013 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

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