'One Another' Series - Serve One Another

 

This is Chuck Rapp with Multiply, a podcast to provide a word of encouragement for village church planters and leaders.

As we begin a new year, I have begun a new series, focusing upon the “One Another” scriptures found in the New

Testament as viewed through the lens of leadership.

We read in Galatians 5:13, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge

the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” Three things stand out to me in this admonition from the apostle

Paul.

 Firstly, we are to serve one another. That means that servant leaders place others’ needs higher than their own.

 We are to serve humbly. Among other things, this means that we serve in such a way that does not draw

attention to ourselves.

 Finally, we serve in love. Love is our motivation for service to others. We spoke about this Love for one another

in the previous podcast.

The apostle Peter also wrote about humble service in 1 Peter 5:5b. “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward

one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’"

The Greek word translated as “clothe yourselves” means to “put on the garment of a servant”. Most Bible students

believe that Peter is referring to the last supper of Christ. In John 13:3-5 it is recorded that “Jesus knew that the Father

had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the

meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and

began to wash his disciples' feet…”

I see a couple of very important lessons for us in this scripture.

 “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was

returning to God.” Jesus was completely secure in his relationship with the Father. He was totally unconcerned

with what the disciples’ response might be or what the owner of the home in which they were meeting might

think. Because he was secure, he was able to serve his disciples by washing their feet. As VCP leaders, we, too,

need to be secure and assured of our relationship with the Father and our acceptance by Him.

 As Jesus set the example for his disciples, we, too, must set the example of servant leadership for those whom

we are leading.

We are to serve one another in humility.

This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.