POINT TO PONDER: I serve God by serving others.
REFLECT: How did today's reading impact you?
The world defines greatness in terms of power, possessions, prestige, and position. However, Jesus measured greatness in terms of service, not status. We serve God by serving others. 
       "Whoever wants to be great must become a servant" (Matt 10:43 -Msg)

       "Put on the apron of humility, to serve one another." 
   (I Peter 5:5 Today's English Version)
While knowing your SHAPE is important for serving God, having the heart of a servant is even more important. Remember, God shaped you for service, not for self-centeredness (It's not about me...) Your primary ministry should be in the area of your shape, but your secondary service is whereever you're needed at the moment. There is no special talent or gift or training required to stay after a meeting and pick up trash/cups/spilled food, or stack chairs or move tables after the meeting this Sunday. Your shape reveals your ministry, but your servant's heart will reveal your maturity.
Get your pen's out...Here's a simple test to see if you have a servant's heart:
  1. Real servants make themselves available to serve.
    2. Being a servant means giving up the right to control your schedule and allowing God to interrupt it whenever He desires. Servants don't get to pick and choose when to serve, only when conevenient. Are you available to God anytime? Can He mess up your plans without you being resentful? Here's a simple prayer that a servant taught me to pray to start my day, "Gracious Father t thank You for this day, a new day to make You known. Thank you for the scheduled activities (then list each one, inviting God to participate). Thank You also for the unscheduled activities that will come, help me to view them as divine appointments, not disappointments, and to prioritize by Your priorities. Amen"
  2. Real servants pay attention to needs.
    3. Servants are always on the lookout for ways to help others. When they see a need, they seize the moment to meet it, just as the Bible commands (Gal 6:10- By the way, why do you think God wants us to especially "do good" to our Christian brothers and sisters?) You can begin by looking for small tasks that noone else wants to do. Watch the deacons in action this Sunday, they typically have a long list of little things that need to get done. Take one on for them or help them.
  3. Real servants do their best with what they have.
    4. They don't make excuses, procrastinate, or wait for better cicumstances. God expects you to do what you can, with what you have, wherever you are. Less-than perfect service is always better than the best intentions. How about that "good enough" principle- It doesn't have to be perfect for God to use and bless it. (Ecclesiastes 11:4)
  4. Real servants do every task with equal dedication.
    5. God will never exempt you from the mundane. You will never arrive at a place where you're too important to help with menial tasks. Jesus specialized in menial tasks taht everyone else tried to avoid. Nothing was beneath Him because He came to serve. He expects us to follow His example.(Col 3:23, John 13:35) Great opportunities often disguise themselves in small tasks. Don't look for great tasks to do for God. Just do the not-so-great stuff, and God will assign you to do whatever is next. Before serving in extraordinary ways, try serving in ordinary ways.
  5. Real servants are faithful to their ministry.
    6. They finish their tasks, fulfill their responsibilities, keep their promises, and complete their commitments. Every week, churches must improvise because volunteers didn't prepare, didn't show up, or didn't even call to say they weren't coming. Can you be counted on by others? God has promised to reward your faithfulness in eternity. (Matt 25:33)
  6. Real servants maintain a low profile.
    7. They don't promote or call attention to themselves. Real servants don't serve for the approval or applause of others. They live for the audience of One. Knowing this, don't be discouraged when your service is unnoticed or taken for granted. Keep on serving God! 
         "Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident 
   that nothing you do for Him is a waste of time or effort." 
   (I Corinthians 15:58 -Msg)

So how did you do on the test? No, me neither... But guess what, the REST of today is the make up test!
PRAYER:
"Gracious Father, this day is Your day. I know there are opportunities all around me to do good. Today I will see disappointments as His appointments and make myself available to be a real servant in Your name. Help me get my eyes off myself and on the Audience of One. Amen
FOR MY CONSIDERATION:
    Which of these sixe characteristics of real servants offers the greatest challenge for me?
This week's Memory verse: 
 	“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others.”  
 I Peter 4:10 (NIV)
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