30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 17 1-2 Children and the kingdom of God 03 Loving people by serving
📖 Luke 17:1-2
11Jun2020 - *Loving people by serving* - _Luke 17:1-2_ - Bible reading: _Galatians 5:13-14_
_Luke 17:1-2 Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! (2) It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones._
The leadership culture of the kingdom of God is to serve the lowly and those from whom we do not expect to receive any benefit or get any mileage. _Matthew 20:25-27 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. (26) Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. (27) And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—_
This leadership culture of the kingdom of God can be learnt by focusing our attention on children.
*So, here is the first lesson that we learn from children, concerning the kingdom of God. When we focus our attention on children, we will internalise the culture of the leadership of the kingdom of God, which is a culture to be unnoticed, ignored and overlooked, for we are not seeking to build our brand name but we are focussed on genuinely caring for the vulnerable.*
_Luke 9:48 and said to them, "Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great."_
Leadership culture in the kingdom of God is to serve people for it is in serving people that we love people. If we are not willing to serve people, we do not love people and leadership is built on loving people. _Galatians 5:13-14 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, *but through love serve one another*. (14) For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."_
The entire law is summed up in this one word, which is to love our neighbour as ourselves. _Romans 13:9-10 For the commandments, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY," "YOU SHALL NOT MURDER," "YOU SHALL NOT STEAL," "YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS," "YOU SHALL NOT COVET," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." (10) Love does no harm to a neighbour; therefore *love is the fulfilment of the law*._
Jesus came to fulfil the law and not to abolish the law, by loving us, which He did by serving us. _Matthew 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."_
_Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfil._
Jesus demonstrated His love for His disciples by washing their feet. We read this in _John 13:1-17_. After He had washed their feet, He gave them and He has given us this precious teaching. _John 13:14-15 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. (15) For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you._
The Lord is teaching us about an attitude of leadership, a leadership culture, where we are willing to serve one another in any way that the need arises, at a particular moment.
Many of God’s people struggle with this ethos, for we are apprehensive that if we have a serving disposition, people will take advantage of us. Consider what we read here, the position of Jesus did not change of being their Lord and teacher, just because He had washed the feet of the disciples.
We need to trust God and be led by the Holy Spirit in all wisdom as we seek to follow Jesus and embrace the leadership culture of the kingdom of God. Apostle Paul had embraced this culture. _II Corinthians 4:5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves *your bondservants* for Jesus' sake._
*Thought to ponder*
```Forgive us, Lord Jesus, for as the church, we have hesitated to be those who serve.```