Serving in Love

Jesus, greatest at the table, the almighty Son of Man,

Laid aside His outer clothing poured some water in a pan;

As the Twelve lay, hushed in silence, He the servant’s task began.

Marvel how their Lord and teacher gently taught them not to vie

As He humbly knelt before them dusty feet to wash and dry,

By His tender touch expressing true compassion from on high.

Jesus took the role of servant when upon that gruesome span,

For all human sin He suffered as a vile and loathsome man;

On the cross poured out like water to fulfill the Father’s plan.

Can we fathom such deep mercy?  Do we see what God has done?

Who can grasp this great reversal;  Love that gives His only Son?

Christ, the sinless for the sinners, for the many dies the One.

Jesus gave to His disciples a commandment that was new:

“Show My love to one another, do as I have done for you;

All the world will know you love Me as you love each other too.”

Hymn “Jesus, Greatest at the Table” by Stephen P. Starke

“But He that is greatest among you shall be your servant.”  Matthew 23:11

Heavenly Father, grant us Your mercy and grace to love others even as we have been loved by You through Your Son, Jesus Christ, the greatest servant of all.  In His name we pray, Amen.

 

 

Advertisement

April 10 God’s Man, Moses

Image by Jaret Benson

Deuteronomy 34:1-Joshua 2:24;  Luke 13:22-14:6;  Psalm 79:1-13;  Proverbs 12:26

God’s man, Moses

chosen at birth

plucked from the river

raised in splendor

a mere man

who took injustice

into his own hands

made a mess

and had to flee

falling from grace

to tend sheep.

Not forgotten,

God’s man, Moses,

 a future assignment

came from a burning bush

the word of deliverance

‘Go and set my people free.’

Back to Egypt

a mere man

through whom

the power and majesty

of God flowed

to turn the tide of

Israel’s suffering.

God’s man, Moses

led and interceded

for a stiff-necked people

forty desert years,

mouthpiece of the Almighty

he shaped a nation,

according to God’s Word.

Humble and obedient

he met with God face to face

and lived.

Moses, mere man,

dishonored his Lord

before all God’s people.

‘No promised land for you.

You can see it,

but do not touch.

Your job is done,

I’m calling you home.’

 

“And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said.  He buried him in Moab…but to this day no one knows where his grave is.  Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak, nor his strength gone.”  Deuteronomy 34:5-7

Lord God, Moses, mere man, was used mightily by you to accomplish your purpose, to deliver a captive people.  Moses foreshadowed the future Savior of the world–you Son who was more than a mere man–who was completely obedient and humble–who turned neither to the left or to the right, but went straight to the Cross.  Jesus saw the Promised Land and entered in.  Through faith, we who believe, though mere men, can also enter into the Land to dwell eternally with you.  Thank you for Moses, true servant.  Thank you for Jesus, the greatest servant of all.  Thank you for your Promised Land!  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

“Then we your people,

the sheep of your pasture,

will praise you forever;

from generation to generation

we will recount your praise!”

Psalm 79:13