For even Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve

You often think your service to God must come first, as though I am waiting for you to bring Me something I lack. But I am not served by human hands, as if I needed anything. I am the One who serves you. I glorify Myself by caring for you, sustaining you, and meeting you in your need.

Consider the picture John Piper gives: imagine you were completely paralyzed and could do nothing for yourself but speak. And imagine a strong, faithful friend who promised to stay with you and do everything you needed. How would you honor that friend if a visitor came? Not by struggling to lift yourself or pretending you didn’t need help. You would call to your friend: “Please lift me up. Please place a pillow behind me. Please put on my glasses.” Your requests would reveal your helplessness and your friend’s strength and kindness. You glorify him by needing him, asking him, and trusting him.

In the same way, I am the One who serves you. You glorify Me by letting Me nurture you. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).”

So when you come to Me in your quiet time, do not come as though you are doing something for Me. That only puffs up the heart. Come as a child who needs to be nourished. Come to be delighted in. Come to be strengthened. Make yourself happy in My Word and in My presence. When you do, you will bear much fruit — because “this is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10).

You instinctively turn to Me when you are weary, frightened, or sad. I designed your heart this way. Just as the branch draws life from the vine and then bears fruit, so you draw life from Me — and then you show a needy world how good I am.

Being nurtured by Me is primary. Let Me serve you. Let Me strengthen you. Let Me love you. Try this, and watch how it transforms your prayer life and your days. Service to God is only the fruit of abiding in My love (John 15:9). For without Me, you can do nothing (John 15:5).

Let My words rest on you:

Jeremiah 15:16

Zephaniah 3:17

Isaiah 40:29

John 15:15

With love beyond measure,

Jesus

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