The Servant

Bible Reading: Mark 9:35; 10:45; Ephesians 2:10; 1 John 3:18

“Why do I have so many chores?” Madison complained as she pushed the vacuum cleaner down the hall. “I feel like a servant in this house!”

Madison’s mom looked up from the dishes she was washing. “A servant? You talk as if that’s a bad thing.”

Madison stopped and stared at her mom as if she had lost her mind. “Of course it’s a bad thing! Who would want to be a servant?”

“Jesus would,” answered Mom. “He came to earth to serve, as well as to save.”

“How was Jesus a servant?” Madison wanted to know.

“Well, He washed His disciples’ dusty feet, and that was considered a very undesirable job—a job only a lowly servant would do.”

“I guess so!” Madison wrinkled her nose at the thought of touching someone’s

dirty feet.

“Jesus also fed people when they were hungry. He comforted and healed the sick many, many times.” Mom smiled at Madison. “And I imagine, if it was needed, Jesus would have vacuumed the house.”

Madison laughed. “I’m pretty sure they didn’t have vacuums in Jesus’s time!”

Mom laughed too. “True. But think about it, Madison. Jesus, who is God, King of Kings, and Creator of everything that exists, lowered Himself to come to earth as a human and serve us! Our hearts were dirty with sin—dirtier than the disciples’ stinky, dusty feet—so Jesus became a servant and died on the cross for the wrong things we’ve done so He could wash our sins away. If He hadn’t done that, we would have no hope of eternal life.”

Madison looked down at the vacuum and then back up at her mom. “I guess you’re saying I should quit complaining and start vacuuming!”

“That’s exactly what I am saying, because that’s what Jesus would do,” Mom replied. “And because we trust in Him, we’re His servants. We serve Him by serving others and faithfully carrying out the responsibilities we’ve been given.”

Madison put her ear buds in her ears, turned on her music, and started the vacuum. With a grin for her mom, she headed down the hall to finish her chores.

-Bonnie Carr

How About You?

Do you ever feel like there’s too much you’re expected to do? Do you ever wish your parents, your teachers, or your coach wouldn’t ask so much from you? We all feel that way at times, and it’s important to have time to rest, but remember that Jesus calls those who trust in Him to be servants like He was. He served us by becoming human and sacrificing His life to save us. When we help others and do the tasks we’ve been given, we’re really serving Him.

Today’s Key Verse:
Mark 10:45 (NIV) For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Today’s Key Thought:

Be a servant for Jesus