Sacrificial Servants
- Bishop Keith Butler
- Feb 28, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 17, 2023
For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)
Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 8:9 remind us of the incredible sacrifice that Jesus made for us. Jesus, being fully God, chose to humble Himself and become human, taking on the form of a servant. He left the opulence and perfection of Heaven to come to earth, live a sacrificial life, and die a sacrificial death for all of humanity.
In fact, the word grace here means graciousness, and refers to someone voluntarily going from a higher rank or position and of their own volition steps down to a lower rank or position.
This selfless act of love demonstrated the depth of Jesus' mercy towards us. We can see His love in that He was willing to give up everything for us, even His own life. In return, Jesus offers us the opportunity to live rich lives.
The richness of our life in Christ is not only in material possessions. We are rich in the blessing that empowers us to change the world through the power of the Holy Spirit. Living in the Spirit is a rich life and one that many people who don’t know Jesus, or haven’t received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, never get to experience.
As followers of Christ, we are called to follow in Jesus’ footsteps. One of the first steps in following Jesus is living a life as humble servants of God, loving others and giving sacrificially.
Let’s remember the tremendous love and sacrifice of Jesus as we strive to imitate it in our daily interactions with others.
Practical Application
How can you display the life of a sacrificial servant in your interactions with those around you? Are you volunteering in your local church? Are you finding ways to be a benefit and example to others around you? If you are, great! Encourage someone who is serving beside you. If not, step out and volunteer to help!
