Nov 4

Mark 16:20
Memorise 1 Corinthians 3:9
“For we are labourers together with God…”

Mark 16:20 is the concluding verse of the whole gospel of Mark, and really sums up for us the relationship that Jesus has with His servants  in their service to Him. When the disciples went forth to preach after the ascension of Jesus, it was the Lord who worked together with them, aiding them in their service and empowering them with signs and wonders to validate their ministry. They were labouring for the Lord, but yet He was the one helping them every step of the way!

What a wonderful master we have in Jesus, who is not only kind and humble but also one who is exceedingly generous. Just imagine: He gave us eternal life even before we were able to serve Him in any capacity. This is like an employer who pays his employees enough money to guarantee their comfortable retirement for life the moment they signed the contract but even before doing any work! We all owe Jesus a gospel debt which we can never repay. Nonetheless, we labour for Him out of gratitude even though we can never fully repay Him for what He has done for us.   It is with this attitude which we serve Him. This means committing time and resources to the various ministries in our local church. But we also serve Him by serving others (Matthew25:40), be it at work or in church. Therefore we should not only perform works of mercy, charity and kindness in church towards other believers only but also to everyone who is in need, using the opportunities that come along in these situations to witness for Jesus.

When we assume positions  of leadership be  it  in  church, at work  or  in school, the way we lead and set an example for others is equally important. Are we oppressive, intimidating and heavy handed or are we caring, understanding and approachable, always willing to roll up our sleeves to co-labour with our subordinates when the going gets tough? Our leadership style will influence what our unbelieving friends and colleagues think about not only us but even more importantly, about our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Thought: We should lead with a heart to serve just as Jesus leads us as a King with a servant’s heart.
Prayer: O Lord, it is not always easy to be able to serve in a manner that glorifies Thee. Give us wisdom and guidance to do so.