Growing as Christ’s Servant

Growing as Christ’s Servant

The Rt Rev Steven Lawrence | STM Council President

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.” (Luke 6: 32)

The only way to grow as a servant of Christ is to follow Him, meaning you may not be popular, likeable or famous. Christ challenged the popular opinions and customs of His day. The gospels indicate that most of His contemporaries viewed Him as a threat to society and the Jewish nation. But Christ just carried on with His way, e.g., Christ chose laypeople as His apostles rather than men from the religious hierarchy (1 Cor 1: 26 – 28). Christ, a Jew, washed the feet of His apostles (John 13: 15). Above all, Jesus Christ loved his apostle, disciples, critics and enemies till the end (Luke 6: 32).

To grow as Christ’s servant, we need to learn from Jesus Christ to love everyone equally without distinction, classification and favouritism. Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, including Judas’ feet. Now, why would He wash the feet of His betrayer? As servants, we are not in a position to negotiate whether we should or should not love others. Jesus Christ commands us to love others as we love ourselves (Matthew 22: 39). If we do not practice His command to love our neighbours, including our critics or enemies, we will not grow as Christ’s servant. We will be serving in an official capacity, but our service or ministry to others will be out of our selfish desires and not selflessness as preached and practised by Jesus Christ. We may fulfil our terms and conditions of service and retire with full benefits, but we would not have grown as Christ’s servants and impacted those around us with Christ-like love if we only loved those who love us.

Most of us indeed struggle to grow as servants of Christ. We may be wounded, tired and discouraged, but there is a place and time that helps and reminds us of our call as Christ’s servant, the Holy Communion. During the Holy Communion, whether as a celebrant or communicant, the body and blood of Christ empower us to share the message of forgiveness of sins. Our world needs to hear the good news, the message of Christ’s unconditional love through His servants, you and me.

Come, let us share the unconditional love of Christ and grow together as His servants!