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Servanthood — New Eyes and Humility

Bryan Schiele
04/13/25 - Sun Worship

"A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher." (Luke 6:40)

I want to be a more well-rounded disciple of Jesus, focused on Truth, Heart, Action, and Community. Continuing our “Cross Training” journey, let’s keep those dimensions in mind as we apply them to different aspects of Jesus, jumping back to dedication. Servanthood includes seeing with new eyes, humility, sacrificial love, and honor. So how does Jesus give us new eyes to see?

New Eyes (Truth)

View Service Like Jesus Does

Some of you might remember years ago when my Dad had surgery to fix his cloudy, unfocused vision. After a handful of futuristic procedures involving lasers and carefully calibrated lenses, he was able to see without glasses for the first time in his life. But it took him a while to acclimate to his "new eyes" in the days after his surgery, as everything was too bright and tinted in psychedelic rainbow hues. But after he was all healed up, his bionic vision was probably better than mine!

What You Need to Know

As he prepared for his last days, Jesus began speaking more plainly to his disciples. He asked them, "Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see …?" (Mark 8:17-18). In between two stories about healing blind men (Mark 8:22-26; 10:46-52), Christ challenges the disciples to shed their spiritual blindness. Three times on that final journey to Jerusalem, he tells them of his coming death (Mark 8:31; 9:30-31; 10:32-34), but they're unable to fully understand the victory of the cross (Mark 8:32-33; 9:32-34; 10:35-40). Each time, Jesus goes a step further, pointing to the sacrificial service demanded of his disciples (Mark 8:34-38; 9:35-37; 10:41-45). He redefines greatness in the kingdom, saying, "... whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:42-45).

Jesus wants us to receive glory and good things. But we have to reverse our thinking on how to get there. We're exalted after we humble ourselves (James 4:10). To preserve our well-being, we sacrifice and pursue others' well-being. No area of life remains unchanged when we follow the cross-shaped path to blessing. When we see as Jesus sees, we view interactions with compassion, purpose, and spiritual awareness.

What You Need to Do

Pray for new eyes to see how to relate to people. Do you follow the way of the world — looking out for number one and protecting yourself — rather than the way of Jesus? While Dr. Phil and other relationship gurus might have some good advice, Jesus' way has to be our starting point, and it will always seem a little strange to most folks. How can we have empowered love when we yield our rights, walk a second mile, or turn the other cheek (Matt. 5:39-42)? Where our old eyes might see a victimized doormat, our new eyes see a way to "overcome evil with good" (Rom. 12:21). It requires daily reorientation, seeing each encounter with a fresh perspective.

Memorize a key verse that helps you refocus your life, like "Love ... does not insist on its own way" (1 Cor. 13:4-5) or "in humility count others more significant than yourself" (Phil. 2:3). Repeat it to yourself when you get stuck and feel yourself fighting for your own. Read one of the gospels, and each day, imagine how the Jesus you meet in Scripture would navigate your situations and choices. Yield to the influence of what Jesus would do, as you strive to say with Paul, "It is no longer I that live, but Christ who lives in me" (Gal. 2:20).

But transformation doesn't happen when we read one Bible verse — it takes "constant practice" (Heb. 5:14). Every day I have to catch myself in the act of seeing with old eyes, fighting for what's "mine," and acting selfishly. But when I see it, then I can repair it. Now I can stop myself and course-correct mid-interaction. And as God's Spirit continues growing fruit in my life, I see the "Jesus way" to respond more and more. And my relationships and influence are blessed as I follow him.

Through the Week

• Read — Mark 10:35-52; Luke 6:20-42; 24:13-35; John 12:35-43; 2 Cor. 4:3-18
• Reflect — Ask yourself, “How could Jesus' perspective change how I view my current challenges?”
• Request — Pray, “Lord, open my eyes" (Psalm 119:18).
• Respond — Think of a time you interacted with someone from a less-than-Christlike point-of-view. Reach out to apologize.
• Reach Out — Ask someone, “How has God changed your perspective of sacrifice, service, and prioritizing others?”

Servanthood (Heart)

Lower Yourself Like Jesus Did

As any retail worker knows, customers take their spot in line very seriously! They look for the quickest checkout, jockey for position, and sometimes fight like schoolchildren to defend their territory. It seems every few days, a new kerfuffle makes the news over someone cutting in line. It’s silly, but haven't most of us gotten caught up fighting for our "place" at one point or another?

What You Need to Know

Once while Jesus sat at a dinner, he quietly watched guests enter and fight for the good spots at the table. He noted that if you sit in the seat of honor and someone more important comes in, the host will humiliate you by sending you to the back of the room. But suppose you place yourself at the lowest place. The host will say, "’Friend, we have a better place for you!' Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted" (Luke 14:10-11).

Life has a way of disgracing those who elevate themselves (Prov. 11:2; 16:18; 29:23). God hates the pride that sneaks in and corrupts our hearts (Prov. 6:16-17; 16:5; Psalm 101:5). And in the end, God will turn the tables and bless the lowly (Luke 16:19-25). As Jesus often repeated, "the last will be first, and the first last" (Matt. 10:31; 19:30; 20:16).

A hidden beartrap lies on the path toward godliness. As God blesses us with growth and we congratulate ourselves on "how far we've come," pride can take hold and destroy all the good (cf. Luke 18:9-14). But even if you obey perfectly, how should you feel? "... when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty'" (Luke 17:7-10).

The King of kings wrapped a towel around his waist, got on his knees, and washed his disciples' dirty feet (John 13:3-5). Why? As he explained, "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 also should do just as I have done to you" (John 13:14-15). In one simple act, Jesus destroyed any superiority they felt, giving his disciples marching orders to go and serve!

What You Need to Do

Keep it simple and avoid making everything a big production, work with what you have. Jesus used a towel and a washbasin to change his disciple's lives. Don't underestimate the value of a gifted meal or a few hours visiting someone who's sick or struggling (Matt. 25:34-40). If we imagine service as some elaborate act, we probably won't make it a regular part of each day.

Beware of defining yourself by your strength, wisdom, wealth, or position. Instead, rejoice in the goodness of the God you've come to know (Jer. 9:23-24). "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord" (1 Cor. 1:31; cf. Gal. 6:14). Spend time each day in worship. When we magnify the Lord, we see our smallness — and yet we walk away feeling filled! It's better to worship than to get "too big for our britches" like the king of Babylon who took credit for "his" accomplishments. After God humbled Nebuchadnezzar, he rightly declared, "... praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble" (Dan. 4:37).

Through the Week

• Read — Matt. 5:2-11; 12:9-21; Luke 1:46-55; 18:9-14; James 4:6-17
• Reflect — Ask yourself, “What might Satan try to use to stir pride in me?”
• Request — Pray, “May I only boast in this, that I know you, the Lord of steadfast love, justice, and righteousness” (cf. Jer. 9:23-24).
• Respond — Go and visit someone or drop off a meal.
• Reach Out — Ask someone, “What small acts of service have made a difference to you?”