A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

SERVE ONE ANOTHER     

Matthew 20:28 (Read Matthew 20:24-28) “. . . the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” 

The Old Adam in you desires that you put yourself first, be the center of attention, have you be number one. There are many who live their lives in just this way. They would never dream of voluntarily humbling themselves in order to elevate someone else. 

Today’s devotional verses follow the request to Jesus by the mother of Zebedee’s sons to seat them on His right and left in His kingdom. The rest of the disciples became aware of her request and took umbrage. Perhaps, their indignation came about because at least some of them had dreams of having such a position for themselves. Whatever the reason, they were upset. 

Jesus took this opportunity to teach an important Biblical principle to His followers. He used His own life to make His point that a Christian lives to serve rather than to be served. He said of Himself that He did not come to earth in order to be served or to be seated on an earthly throne (Palm Sunday) or to receive a high place of honor in Jerusalem or anywhere else. He said of Himself that He came “not to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28)   

Your sinful human nature does not think highly of servanthood. Think, if you will, of domestic service. Such jobs are not highly coveted in this country. In fact, they are viewed as demeaning. Not so, Jesus says, in the Christian community. A life of servanthood, humility, and service to others is of highest value. Such a life flows out of Jesus’ life of humbling Himself, taking on human flesh and the world’s sins, suffering and dying in the place of sinners to ransom them from hell and take them to heaven. Jesus says to you, “As I have loved (served) you, so you must love (serve) one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love (serve) one another.” (John 13:34-35) 

Prayer: Jesus, grant me a servant’s heart for Your sake. Amen. 

Forth in the peace of Christ we go;  
Christ to the world with joy we bring;  
Christ in our minds, Christ on our lips,  
Christ in our hearts, the world’s true king. 

King of our hearts, Christ makes us kings;  
Kingship with Him His servants gain;  
With Christ the Servant-Lord of all,  
Christ’s world we serve to share Christ’s reign. 

Priests of the world, Christ sends us forth  
This world of time to consecrate.  
This world of sin by grace to heal,  
Christ’s word in Christ to recreate. 

Christ’s are our lips, His Word we speak;  
Prophets are we whose deeds proclaim  
Christ’s truth in love that we may be  
Christ in the world, to spread Christ’s name.   

We are the Church; Christ bids us show  
That in His Church all nations find  
Their hearth and home where Christ restores  
True peace, true love to all mankind.  

Forth in Peace of Christ We Go // LSB 920