When Franklin Delano Roosevelt was in office, he had an assistant, a
frail, sickly man by the name of Harry Hopkins.
Hopkins was
granted great privileges, including that of being able to see the
president, without an appointment, at anytime he wished.
FDR was
eventually asked why he kept Hopkins so close to him. Roosevelt's reply
is worth noting. He said, "Through the door of my office flows an
incessant stream of men and women who almost invariably want something
from me. Harry Hopkins only wants to serve me. That's why he's near me."
When Jesus talked about His purpose, He shared that His reason in
coming to this world was to serve. What a wonderful and unique thought.
Can you think of anyone you know who has such a pure and total
motivation?
When my phone rings in the evening, it's someone who
wants me to share my opinion. When it rings during the day, it's
somebody who wants me to buy something. I open my mail and its bills
which need to be paid or offers that are too good for me to pass over.
Political candidates, public broadcasting, and everything in between
wants something from me. It all goes to prove we live in a world that is
filled with people who are in the business of taking and asking.
But Jesus is different.
Jesus came to serve me and to give
everything He had and was, so I could be forgiven. Throughout His life
Jesus never quit giving. He never drew a line and said, "This is too
much. I quit!" On the contrary, rather than giving up, Jesus continued
on toward Calvary and His cross.
His life was a gift to us, His
death a present.
While writing this devotion it occurred to me,
wouldn't it be wonderful if Jesus could say the same thing about us that
FDR said about his friend? Looking down from heaven what a joy it would
be to know the Savior can count on me as one of His faithful servants.
I imagine it could happen, but the Holy Spirit would have to make a
lot of changes in us so that Jesus could say those words. It would mean
we would have to turn around our whole approach to living.
We
would have to stop taking and be consumed by giving. We would have to
learn how to give as Jesus gave to us.
THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, my
life has been dedicated to finding people to serve me. I expect good
service in a restaurant, taxicab or hospital. I demand good service.
Change me and grant that I become Your servant in reaching out to others
as a servant. In Your Name, I ask it. Amen.
Pastor Ken Klaus
Lutheran Hour Ministries All rights reserved;
not to be duplicated without permission.
