"For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and

ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake."

-          2 Corinthians 4:5

 

  There is no greater path for us to follow than to follow the path of love. While men vie for power and position, prestige and fame, the one thing that often goes missing is a heart that's greatest ambition is to walk in love. The love of God is what brings greatness, and that greatness is cradled within the arms of serving others. The Bible teaches us that Jesus was the Master-servant. He came, "not to be minister unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many" (Matt. 20:28). One of the surest signs of a true leader is his or her servant heart. Not only was Christ willing to make himself a servant-vessel on earth, but even now, as he sits at the right hand of the Father, he ever lives to make intercession for us (Heb. 7:25). He came into this world to demonstrate the highest purpose for living. He now lives in us to help us realize how to demonstrate that purpose to the world.

  Everything about the life of Christ was founded upon him doing the will of his Father. Even in the closing hours of his ministry, he poured himself out in service to God by serving his fellow man. John describes him bowing down and washing his disciple's feet. Later, he goes into the garden to pray where his heart is broken in anguish because of the great cost he must pay in saving others (John 13, 17). If there is anything that best defines the person of Christ it would have to be his love for God and his willingness to give his all.

  When the Pharisees came to Jesus and asked him what the greatest commandment was, he replied: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself" (Matt. 22:36-39). Love must always come first. When we build our passion toward heaven it will in turn ignite a passion in us for others. In other words, the first two priorities of a believer's life is to love God and love people.

  As believers, we are commanded to walk even as he walked. Accomplishing such a holy task falls directly upon how we demonstrate our love for God by loving the brethren. Our goal should be to dwell within the divine circle of love where our heart burns with an eternal flame to serve. Once ignited, it should never be quenched. Once committed, it should never be altered. There is nothing that we should ever allow to dismantle its purposes.

  God is love, and to love God is to love people. John wrote in his epistle, "Hereby perceive we the love of God because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren" (1 John 3:16).

  The very life of God that dwells within us is full of love. When we give ourselves completely over to letting love rule us, then we ignite something within this life that empowers us to live as God lives. Paul tells us, "And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness" (Col. 3:14). As we choose to clothe ourselves with love, the life of God within begins to compel us to no longer want to live unto ourselves but unto him who died for us and rose again (2 Cor. 5:15).

   The more I grow in my relationship with God the more I realize that there is nothing more important than to live for love. By surrendering to love I am really surrendering to God. In fact, the closer I am to God the closer I am to love, and the closer I am to love the closer I am to God. First Corinthians thirteen describes love. It tells us who God is. God doesn't just have love. He doesn't just act on love or give love away. He is love. When we choose to make love our aim then these same qualities will begin to define our person.

   As you read over this passage (taken from several different translations), allow your heart to muse over the nature of love and how this same nature has come to live within you. Let it soak down deep into your spirit until it takes center stage in every affair of life.

  "Love is patient. It knows how to stay in difficult relationships with kindness. It can stand up under any kind of treatment. It never boils over with jealousy or envy. It does not shock people with arrogance or displays itself boastfully. Love is not forward or self-assertive. It does not behave inappropriately. It does not insist on its own way. It does not keep a ledger of all the wrong it has suffered. Love is not touchy or resentful. It never does the graceless thing. Love never harbors ill will or evil thoughts. It doesn't brood over wrong and does not see any pleasure in wickedness. It is always glad when truth wins out. There is nothing that love cannot face. There are no limits to its faith. It never regards anyone or anything as hopeless. There is nothing that can break love's spirit. Love never quits. It never drops off the scene. It never fades under any circumstance, and it never comes to an end."

  I believe this year can be the greatest year of our lives. We can be more of a servant by letting love live in us and through us. There is no greater way of expressing God to the world than to make ourselves a true servant-vessel.*