This is the season of Lent, and as such, it is a time of reflection, of seeing why we do the actions we do, why we work the job we work, why we love the people we love, and why we worship the Lord God above who reigns over all.

In preparing for Passover, Jesus was also preparing for the time of His crucifixion.  The disciples were there with Him, and as such, they were discussing trivial items (just as we are apt to do).

Minutes ago, these same men had experienced the FIRST Lord’s Supper, sitting around the table as the Lord Jesus served them bread and wine in the upper room.  They had been privileged to walk with Jesus, to see Him miracles, to experience Him first-hand, and now they sat at that same table, arguing about which man among the twelve was the greatest.

• Was it Peter, the one who preached the first sermon at Pentecost?
• Was it John, the beloved disciple who would care for Mary, the mother of Jesus after Jesus’ death?
• Was it Judas, the one who would soon betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver?
• Was it . . .?

Each of us wish to be great in the eyes of men.  We strive for education, for knowledge, for ‘street-wisdom,’ for whatever it takes to know MORE than the guy next door.  We desire the promotion; we wish for the salary increase; and we hunt for the better job, only to discover that—

• The work is better when we are NOT in charge.
• The salary we made was sufficient to meet our needs.
• The job we once held was good for the sustenance of our days.

Oftentimes, we speak about ‘how life is funny because we seek that which we do not have, want for that which we do not own, and desire that which is beyond our reach ONLY to discover that when we look up and offer praise to the ONE who has provided, then we would see the good gifts the LORD has already provided.

Lent is a season of reflection.  It is a time to look back on our year as a child of God, seeing where we strived to follow His commands, seeing our shortcomings, and understanding how sanctification is a step-by-step process as we walk toward our home in glory land.  Since we are not yet home, we sometimes see how we act as Jesus’ disciples acted, striving for greatness, striving for ‘first’ place, and striving for that which is NOT ours to own.

This is the question we must (daily) ask ourselves.  We are God’s possession, seated at His table, already living each day within the shadow of Heaven to come.  We are a mere one breath away, and yet, even though we recline at HIS TABLE, we still constantly struggle with serving others as Jesus taught us to serve.

• Why do we do the daily work that we do?
• Why do we strive for more education?
• What must we do to be satisfied within this life we have received?
• What must we do to be content with the life the Lord has provided?

Are we seeking HIS GLORY in all that we do (our marriages, our careers, our families, our service) OR Are we seeking our Own Glory for others to see and note?

Are we willing to be a servant?

Years ago, Rebecca sat in my English class, and as a Catholic, she served others during Lent each Easter season.  I vividly remember one particular conversation Rebecca and I shared one season of Lent.  At that time, I did not participate in Lent and the whole concept intrigued me.  She was a young high school student, one who ran like the wind, running each week at the cross-country races, winning some races when her twin sister Rachel did not win.  That particular Lent, Rebecca spoke about her love of ice cream.  She was talking about that which she had chosen to fast from and the service project she was called to do.

• She fasted from eating ice cream for forty (40) days, &
• She served ice cream to others at the church for those same forty (40) days of Lent.

It was  a suffrage.

Even though it was merely ice cream, it was still a decision Rebecca made to relinquish that which she loved in order to give to others that which she loved.  There is an annual reminder there for each of us.

Jesus said to His followers—

Jesus, the Son of God left the glory of heaven to come to earth, to be born as a man, to live a life, not as a king but as a child of a carpenter.

Jesus, the Son of man left His kingdom in heaven to descend to earth, to lay down His life, to be crucified on the cross, to pay a price for that which He did not deserve.

Jesus, the KING of kings left the throne of God to serve as the propitiation (the payment for our sins) to pay the price we COULD NEVER PAY, to make the way to receive HIS salvation.

JESUS DID!

JESUS, THE GREAT ‘I AM’ CAME TO SERVE.

JESUS, THE SON OF HOLY GOD CAME TO SERVE.

JESUS THE MAN OF GOD, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS MADE THE WAY FOR US, those who knew sin and who were so in need of a Savior.

JESUS DID!

Rebecca revealed to me during that season of Lent what it meant to give up that which you loved to serve others.  I am sure it was a suffrage for this high school girl.  I wonder—

As we reflect on our work, on our careers, and on our leadership of others—

• Do we serve them OR Do we seek to be served?
• As we examine our daily lives, our families, our colleagues, our friendships—
• Are we servant leaders OR Do we seek ways for them to serve us?

Jesus spoke it BEST and with great AUTHORITY when He said—

”But I am among you as the one who serves.” (The Gospel According to Luke 22: 27b NASB)