Christians Why Can't We Be Friends?

 

Day 1 - Mt 23:11 The greatest among you will be your servant.

It would be hard to argue against the fact that Jesus’ solitary life has affected more change in the world than any other. His teaching and life example have had influence on every segment of society, government and human relationships over the past 2000 years. Yet this powerful leader and influencer of human society said that he did not come to be served but to serve others. In fact he said the greatest among us will be who follows his principles to be a servant. This seems counterintuitive to our human intellect. Even the majority of Christians don’t truly believe this. We still use power as the main base of leadership, which is chiefly the reason the church has failed to affect the world in the way Jesus did. This week we will be focusing on the power of servanthood. Begin reflecting now on the question “what does it mean to be a servant leader?” In the extended reading we will began to get a grip chiefly on what it is not, and during the week we will discover what it is.

 

Day One Additional Reading – Mt 23:1-12

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Day 2 - Matt 20: 26 Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,  27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave--  28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

 

Jesus life is an example of servant leadership. His prime concern is not to have people focus on him but that he would focus on the needs of others. He was no respect of persons and loved and saw value in every person. The result was- thousands followed him. They commented that he spoke as one who had authority, not like their other leaders (Mt 7:29). This authority was not power based, they followed him because of his wisdom, character, compassion, acceptance and the power of God was evident in his speaking and miracles. These are the qualities of a servant leader. These are the qualities he grants to those who follow his example.

 

Day Two Additional Reading – Matt 20:25 -28,   Lu 22:25-27

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Day 3 - Rom 14:1*  Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters…5* One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.  6* He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.  7* For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone.  8 If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

 

The servant life we are called to is not about a set of rules, but about responding to his relationship with us in our lives. In Romans 14:1-23 we find that each person needs to open their life before God to gain his wisdom on where the boundaries need to be in the area of disputable matters. These are areas the Bible does not give clear and direct commandments. The key passages are as follows. 14:1  Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. We need to look at the convictions we hold in these areas. 14:5 Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind…7 For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone.  8 If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. This is not about our likes or what we want, it is honestly seeking Gods wisdom on what is or what is not healthy for our life. He concludes by saying… “14: 22* So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But the man who has doubts is condemned if he (add your area), because his (add your area) is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin. This closing statement is very powerful and reiterates that this is not our preference. It is a result of our relationship with Christ. To be fully convinced in our mind means we have prayed and honestly looked at the issues in our life and we can without doubt that our convictions of how we are to live are a result of our seeking God’s wisdom and guidance.

 Day Three Additional Reading – Rom 14:1 – 23, Phil 3: 12-16

 

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Day 4 - Matt 5:43 "You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’  44* But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  45* that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.

The Servant life is not just for relationships with people who are like minded, we are called to have a servant life style with all people… even an enemy. His point is powerful… Matt 5:46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? We are called to respect even when their doctrine or actions are incorrect. Rom 12:19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." The point being, when we treat a person with respect and dignity, returning good even for evil, they are no longer able to rationalize their sin because we react in a sinful reply to their actions to us. It will very soon be seen who is healthy and who is not when we return good and show respect and honor in the face of evil.

 

Day Four Additional Reading – Matt 5:43- 48,  Ro 12:20-21

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Day 5 - Phil 2: 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:  6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,  7* but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  8* And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross!

We are called to follow the example that Jesus left for us. Paul states it well in today’s passage. We are to have the same attitude as Christ. He was the only one truly worthy of worship, yet he served even the most debased sinner to show the love of God and the power to give every person a new life. We are also called to communicate this same truth by the same means. Read through John 13:1-17 the illustration of the life he has called everyone who accepts him as their Lord. This powerful parting illustration to his disciples prepared them to take his message to the world. It will prepare us for the same task.

 

Day Five Additional Reading – John 13:1 - 17