#1214. Humble yourself to become Gods’ servant (13/1/25)

Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional as we continue in our Luke, Exploring Who Jesus is series.

At present, I'm only posting on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Today, from Luke 17:7-10, we reflect on how we are to become and remain God’s humble servants.

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‘“Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”’ (Luke 17:7-10)

Luke 17:7–10

1. Jesus calls us to humble service

Jesus uses this parable about a servant and master to teach the nature of a healthy relationship with God. In the context, Jesus is challenging the religious leaders who, whilst claiming to serve God were, in actuality, acting as masters rather than servants. They refused to listen to Jesus their Saviour and King. They put their own desires and ambitions before those of God. Their attitude to Jesus revealed that they thought of themselves as masters rather than as servants of God.

This parable expresses the shared understanding of the nature of a master and servant relationship. If you want them to plough, they plough! They prepare your food rather than the other way around! The master is never obligated to serve or thank the servant. This sounds rather harsh, but it serves to make Jesus’ point about serving God; of course a good master may choose to serve and thank their servant, but, like God, the master is never obligated to do so (See Luke 12:37)!

Luke 12:37

The first lesson from this is to understand that a healthy relationship with God is founded on service. Too many see God as their servant rather than the one that they serve wholeheartedly.

2. The master is Father and the servant is a child

Maybe, as we reflect on this text, you are thinking to yourself, something along the lines of what we read about no longer being servants:

‘“You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.’” (John 15:14-17)

John 15:14–17

Our identity is that of God’s children. However, whilst not being ‘servants’, we remain obedient children! This is why John 15 begins and ends with a ‘command’! As humble children, we serve our Father, our Saviour and The Holy Spirit!

We are unworthy servants and we are certainly unworthy children. God has given us grace. We owe Him everything and we owe Him our obedience. Can we say of ourselves that we remain God’s humble servants? Are we seeking to be the faithful and waiting servants that are described:

‘“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning…” (Luke 12:35)

Luke 12:35

Let’s pray together as we finish

“Lord Jesus, I thank you for serving me and the world. Help me to imitate you in my service, firstly to You as Lord and, secondly, may I serve this world for your glory. Amen.”