May 06, 2021: SOAP #4172:  2Samuel 11, 12; Psalm 51; Matthew 23

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 23:8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi’, for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father’, for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called ‘teacher’, for you have one Teacher, the Christ.
11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

OBSERVATION:  Among the many characteristics of a valuable servant is “useful.”  A useless servant has no value.  The more useful, the more value. 

The trouble with being useful is that we may feel used.  We may feel like people take advantage of us without replacing any emotional support.  They may not express and appreciation for our service.   If people cannot use us, we may feel useless and we lose our sense of self-worth. 

APPLICATION: Every member of the body of Christ is useful.  Every member of our physical body is useful as it was purposed.  God has placed each person in the body of Christ to fulfill a purpose.  All are not leaders in the church, but all are important, and all have leadership potential—we can all lead by our example.  Every leader should set the example of being a servant, a useful servant. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, you judge my leadership not by how many people are under me, but by how many people I am under. –not by how many people I control, but how many people I serve.  Holy Spirit, make me a useful servant. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!