Gracious Father, Your Son called his disciples together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you.” Lording over others was not Christ’s holy nature and it should not be ours as his followers. It was his selfless nature leading to his sacrificial death that brought life to us. Christ made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. The apostle Paul says, though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
We confess that this selfless mindset is beyond any natural inclination of our flesh. Our heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; it is impossible to understand. Like the Gentile rulers, we confess our tendency is to build our own fleshly kingdoms by asserting authority and dominance beginning with finesse, flattery, and incentive, and when that isn’t effective, we turn to using shame, guilt, and fear, all to control people and outcomes.
Father, thank you we have a sacrificial Savior! Thank you we have been redeemed! Thank you we are being sanctified! Thank you for the Holy Spirit dwelling in us and the promise that Christ’s nature will flow through us. And all of this by grace! For it is by grace we have been saved, through faith—and this is not from ourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that we cannot boast.
Through Christ and his transforming empowerment and out of our deep satisfaction found in him yielding abiding peace, dignity as his beloved, Christ-esteem, hope, Christ-confidence, and Holy Spirit derived self-control, we pray that Christ’s character would flow through us and exhibit true greatness, exuding sacrificial selflessness and servitude.
Father, rather than selfish ambition and conceit, bless us with selflessness and humility. Rather than disingenuous self-gratifying counterfeit love, bless us with sincere sacrificial Christ-like love.
Rather than our tendency to cower from truth or even exchange lies for truth to earn favor or to control outcomes, bless us with courage to cling to what is good for all.
Rather than a spirit to quickly abandon others when things are difficult or don’t go our way, bless us with steadfast devotion to one another.
Rather than our obstinate chase for fleshly self-esteem, bless us with a sacrificial and subservient spirit to place others above ourselves. May we never lack in zeal as we serve our Lord with spiritual fervor. May others see Christ in and through our lives.
In Christ,
Blessings!
Matthew 20:25-28
25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, 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.”
Jeremiah 17:9
“The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?
Philippians 2:7
Rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
1 Corinthians 9:19
Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
I Thessalonians 1:5
For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
John 14:16-17
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
Philippians 2:3
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Romans 12:9-11
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.