Week Three Devotionals
SERVANTHOOD
Thursday, March 13, 2025
Topic: SERVANTHOOD - You are Called to be an “Under-Rower”
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:1: “ Let a man so consider us, servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.”
Discussion:
We begin our study of what the heart of a faithful servant looks like with a glimpse at the unusual Greek word Huperetes. This word was used many times throughout the scripture but often overlooked. This word means a subordinate or, more accurately, an “under-rower.” In Biblical days, these men were propelling a ship forward with oars. These were the strong men who sat chained to their positions for life, unseen and unknown, except by the captain, who often took a personal interest in these men. He knew these men could do what the ship needed at a moment's notice. (2 Timothy 2:20-21) They were the superchargers called upon to propel the boat forward.
In our scriptural reference, Paul refers to himself and Apollos as under-rowers. The apostle Paul had come to understand what we also need to know: that we are all subordinate and under-rowers to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom He is establishing. There are many similarities in the life and mindset of an under-rower and a servant of Christ. As a servant to others, your work goes unseen and often unappreciated, but it causes the “movement and the direction” of the ministry. As a servant, you usually don’t know what your work is accomplishing because you can’t see what it is doing; you trust the captain who is giving the commands.
As an under-rower, you keep pace with the men beside you and measure each other to stay in rhythm. Your work can be challenging, the environment hot and exhausting, yet you encourage the tired and the weak to keep going. A servant's greatest virtue is humility, willingness to work behind the scenes in the hidden parts of ministry, and understanding that our joy comes from witnessing the manifestation of the kingdom of God in the lives of others.
Prayer: Lord, I ask that you form within me the heart of an under-rower and a servant. Clothe me with a spirit of humility where neither my name, actions, or the works of my hands bring me glory. Jesus, I declare that You are my Captain, and as You direct to the leadership You’ve placed me under, I will serve with integrity and unity of purpose. When the environment I serve within becomes hot, the work is tiring, and the lifting is heavy, I will look to You for strength and encouragement. You have created me to be a bondservant to the great works of God, and I will not turn back or release my hands from the oars as we move toward more extraordinary manifestations of Your kingdom. In your Holy Name, I speak and declare it now. Amen
Friday, March 14, 2025
Topic: SERVANTHOOD - Do as I Have Done to You
Scripture: John 13:3-5 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
John 13:12-15 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
Discussion:
In a world where most people spend their time selfishly serving themselves, Scripture shows us that Jesus taught true servanthood and modeled it. His life and death make it abundantly clear that a servant's heart is measured by love, humility, and selflessness. He gave His life to seek and save those who were lost. In the scripture reading today, we read how Jesus demonstrated servanthood in washing the filthy feet of His disciples. The meaning, however, was much deeper than just foot-washing. The act demonstrated to His disciples His love and the importance of lowering oneself to serve, even when it may be uncomfortable, inconvenient, or costly. The Bible reveals that the disciples were just like us, desiring to be first, honored, or recognized for who we are and what they did. Jesus demonstrated that being Christlike is the opposite of what the world desires. He desires that our lives imitate His- a life laid down to love and serve unconditionally.
Today's challenge is clear: Will you allow the Lord to open your heart on this matter? In every encounter I have had with Him on heart issues, the Holy Spirit uncovers attitudes and actions that need attention. As we pray, let’s press into those areas where the Lord needs to bring revelation and change.
Prayer: Father, when I think I have found the deepest levels of servanthood and humility, I discover that there’s even more to know, more to be experienced. It’s more than physical work; it’s more than a one-time event; it is learning the true meaning of imitating You. Give me the heart of a servant, Lord. Allow me to become a man willing to lay my life down for others and Your kingdom's purposes. Please help me to die to my flesh and prioritize those things that will have an eternal impact. My heart is ready. Please show me how and where to serve. Amen.
Monday, March 17, 2025
Topic: SERVANTHOOD – Chosen to Serve
Scripture: Acts 6:1-4 Now, in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
Discussion:
A servant's heart has many characteristics, but to the Lord, He desires a willingness to serve where He calls. Our “yes” to His call will always be more important than our ability. With our “yes, " we partner with Him to bring unity to the body and expand the influence of His kingdom on earth. Our scripture for today provides the foundation for the church regarding the importance of faithful men rising to serve. If you call Jesus the Lord of your life, you have been called to serve. Service to your leaders, family, the body of Christ, the needy, broken, and destitute—in general, you are here to serve the people and the reasons Jesus died. Paul sums service up this way… “You were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20).
The Warrior Challenge-Battle Stations was created to call men into the service of the King. Not half-hearted service but wholly devoted service, which causes us not to wait to be told but to actively seek ways to serve. Men who have the passion of a warrior and are filled with the Spirit of God. In our service to others, we are “re-presenting” God to them. If our motive service is pure, it comes before God as a sacrificial act of worship to our King.
Our challenge today is to allow the Holy Spirit to continue to refine and direct us. To give us a greater understanding of His heart and how He desires to use us. As it did with the disciples, Jesus’ teachings should change us. The Word should cause our hearts and purpose to align with His will. Are you willing to allow that to happen? Are you willing to live a life of sacrifice, understanding the kingdom of God is about us laying our lives down for His purpose?
Prayer: Father, I begin with the confession that I am not YET the man pictured in Scripture, and yet I am thankful that you see the “willingness of my heart to change.” I see that a faithful servant's heart is crafted out of the building blocks of strong character, a close relationship with the Holy Spirit, and walking in the wisdom that comes ONLY from you. These are the heart qualities of the faithful servant of God. You see this man in me, so help me see him. I desire a humble heart, a bended knee, and outstretched hands. Purify my motives and instill in me a heart to serve others. Empower me never to grow weary in doing well and to live a life serving others. Amen.
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Topic: SERVANTHOOD - Tender and Compassionate Hearts
Scripture: 1 John 3:16-18 We know what love is because Jesus gave his life for us. This is why we must give our lives for each other. If we have all we need and see one of our own people in need, we must have pity on that person, or else we cannot say we love God. Children, you show love for others by truly helping them, and not merely by talking about it.
Discussion: Tender and compassionate. As men, those are traits many of us struggle with. They don’t go with what we perceive a “warrior” to be. Most of us were raised to be the opposite: rough and insensitive. Like most men, I’m sure there have been many times when your actions were viewed as harsh and unsympathetic. Jesus was the greatest Warrior to have ever walked on earth, yet His documented acts throughout the gospels demonstrated His tenderness and compassion for others. As in our example, Jesus modeled this for a purpose- to show the love of the Father and to introduce the kingdom of heaven to a lost and dying world.
Many men struggle with showing tenderness and compassion to others, especially those with whom they are not in a relationship. Jesus understands, so He sent the Holy Spirit to live in us. Our part is to yield our hearts and attitudes to Him. As He transforms us, the fruit of the Spirit begins to become evident in our lives. We quit fighting what He desires to do through us and start acting in a manner contrary to the flesh. Where we used to show indifference, turning away from the needs of others, we begin to demonstrate the love and attention of God. The fruit God develops in us is vital to the work of a servant, enabling us to serve our church and others with the love God intended.
Challenge questions: How much compassion do I exhibit in my life? Can others see God’s love in me through my attitudes and actions? If my inability to demonstrate compassion comes from a past hurt, am I willing to let God heal it? John 3:30 says, “He must increase, and I must decrease.”
Prayer: Father, having and displaying a servant's heart is so fundamental that I sometimes forget its importance. I can’t fake real love and compassion for broken people. I need a heart transplant where the stony heart of busyness and the irritated heart of inconvenience are removed from me. Create in me a tender and compassionate heart that sees the need and takes action to help. Capture my heart with the truth that we are never more identified with You than when we do what matters most to You. In Jesus' Name and for Your glory. Amen.
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Topic: SERVANTHOOD – The Entrapment of Entitlement
Scripture: Philippians 2:3-5 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Discussion: What is entitlement? In the biblical context, entitlement refers to the belief or attitude that one inherently deserves privilege or special treatment. You may be asking yourself what this has to do with servanthood. It has everything to do with it. Many men of God have served over the years, and somewhere along the way, the genuine motivation to serve went from a heart toward God to a spirit of believing they were entitled to some sort of promotion, privilege, or recognition. Entitlement creates an attitude that compares your work to others and attempts to make you believe you deserve so much more. At its core, entitlement is demonic and can easily be seen in Lucifer’s fall (Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14). This demonic influence creates division, rebellion, and pain when the expectations do not come to pass. From personal experience, I can tell you that entitlement doesn’t just happen; it builds up over time. It begins to take root when we fail to serve as Jesus taught and begin serving with the wrong attitudes and motives. Before you know it, the spirit of entitlement drives your thought processes and creates animosity in your heart.
Jesus’s heart regarding servanthood is summed up in our primary scripture for today. Don’t be selfish. Be humble. Think of others as better than yourself. Don’t focus on our interests. Take an interest in others, too. Understanding our identity in Jesus and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us will prevent the enemy's influence from taking root and influencing us. As we bring week three to a close, we now understand that God desires our hearts to be pure before Him. We should be thankful He allows us to share His love with others. Colossians 3:17 sums up our attitude toward serving others: "Whatever you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks to God the Father because of Him.”
Prayer: Father, You know my heart better than I know myself. Today, I pray as David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me.” Always allow me to serve with a heart that honors You and bring conviction when my motives and actions contradict Your Word. Give me a heart to serve others so they may see Your love for them through me. Empower me to serve where You lead. My life is Yours, Jesus. Amen.